Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Malkin has 1 left. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60, Blocked shots 108, Ascension score 57.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Luck Meter +38, On-ice PDO 1034.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Pettersson 17–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 0.14 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Pettersson vs Malkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pettersson 6G 9A, 25 SOG · Malkin 8G 13A, 42 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 4–2 · neutral 4–9 · Pettersson's defensive zone 2–6 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Pettersson blocked 1 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 0 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
6:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–9
- 35.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.5
- 44.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | VAN 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-21 | VAN 1–5 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-27 | VAN 4–5 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-26 | VAN 4–3 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-27 | VAN 3–4 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-11 | VAN 4–3 PIT | 2G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-10 | VAN 4–5 PIT | 0G 1A 6S | 2G 2A 6S |
| 2022-10-28 | VAN 5–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-12-21 | VAN 4–1 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-27 | VAN 6–8 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 2G 3A 6S |
| 2018-10-27 | VAN 0–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 6S |
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Elias Pettersson or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Malkin done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 4–7. Pettersson had 15 points (6 goals) and Malkin had 21 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Malkin?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 10 and Malkin 17 of their 27 head-to-head draws.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →