Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Schmaltz's 3.8.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Hits 67, Ascension score 57, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Goals above expected +4.2, Corsi 55.9%.
Head to head on the dot, Pettersson leads Schmaltz 16–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 0.30 |
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 Schmaltz
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 5G 10A, 32 SOG · Schmaltz 7G 7A, 34 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 9–3 · neutral 4–1 · Pettersson's defensive zone 3–5 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Pettersson blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
12:31 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–9
- 47.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 35.2%
- Goals
- 0–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | VAN 4–7 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-02-02 | VAN 2–6 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-05 | VAN 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-16 | VAN 1–3 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-02-23 | VAN 1–2 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-18 | VAN 2–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-10 | VAN 3–4 ARI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-03 | VAN 2–1 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-13 | VAN 5–4 ARI | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-12-03 | VAN 3–2 ARI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-14 | VAN 7–1 ARI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-07 | VAN 5–1 ARI | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 16 meetings.
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 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 9th-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 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or Nick Schmaltz 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 Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 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 Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 8–8. Pettersson had 15 points (5 goals) and Schmaltz had 14 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 16 and Schmaltz 9 of their 25 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 →