Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Nikolaj Ehlers
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Ehlers's 1.8.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 108, Faceoffs won 642, Hits 67.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Corsi 60.6%, Scoring chances 58.5%, Fenwick 61.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 0.16 |
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 Ehlers
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 7G 9A, 47 SOG · Ehlers 6G 6A, 57 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Pettersson's defensive zone 0–1 (2025-26)
Pettersson blocked 1 of Ehlers's shots; Ehlers blocked 0 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
5:04 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–6
- 14.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 38.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | VAN 4–6 CAR | 0G 2A 2S | 3G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-14 | VAN 3–4 CAR | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-18 | VAN 6–2 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-14 | VAN 1–6 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-18 | VAN 2–4 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-09 | VAN 5–0 WPG | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-17 | VAN 2–4 WPG | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-08 | VAN 4–7 WPG | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2021-12-10 | VAN 4–3 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-11-19 | VAN 3–2 WPG | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2021-03-02 | VAN 2–5 WPG | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-03-01 | VAN 4–0 WPG | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 19 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 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)
Nikolaj Ehlers
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or Nikolaj Ehlers 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 Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Ehlers had 71 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 Nikolaj Ehlers?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Ehlers done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 6–13. Pettersson had 16 points (7 goals) and Ehlers had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Ehlers?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 0 and Ehlers 1 of their 1 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 →