Who to start · 2025-26
Elvis Merzlikins vs Igor Shesterkin
In 2025-26, Elvis Merzlikins posted a .883 save percentage to Igor Shesterkin's .912.
Against our expected-goals model, Merzlikins saved −7.7 goals and Shesterkin +18.8.
This week Merzlikins has 1 game left (about 0.0 expected starts); Shesterkin has 1 left (about 0.8 expected starts) with 1 tough matchup. We project Shesterkin for 1.5 ESPN points to Merzlikins's 0.0.
Igor Shesterkin has the better number in 9 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.
Merzlikins's biggest edges: Goals against 95.
Shesterkin's biggest edges: Goals saved above expected +18.8, Goals-against average 2.50, Save % .912.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 W, .935 SV%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elvis Merzlikins
0.51
fantasy points per game
Igor Shesterkin
2.29
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Igor Shesterkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Merzlikins | Shesterkin |
|---|---|---|
| Wins (+4) | 1.87 | 1.96 |
| Goals against (-2) | -6.33 | -4.94 |
| Saves (+0.2) | 4.78 | 5.09 |
| Shutouts (+3) | 0.10 | 0.06 |
| OT losses (+1) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
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: Merzlikins vs Shesterkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Merzlikins | Shesterkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | CBJ 6–3 NYR | 0/0 SV | 31/36 SV |
| 2026-03-02 | CBJ 5–4 NYR | 29/33 SV | 24/29 SV |
| 2025-11-15 | CBJ 1–2 NYR | 0/0 SV | 26/27 SV |
| 2025-03-09 | CBJ 7–3 NYR | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-01-18 | CBJ 0–1 NYR | 0/0 SV | 27/27 SV |
| 2024-02-28 | CBJ 1–4 NYR | 26/28 SV | 30/31 SV |
| 2024-02-25 | CBJ 4–2 NYR | 38/40 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2023-10-14 | CBJ 5–3 NYR | 24/25 SV | 16/21 SV |
| 2023-01-16 | CBJ 1–3 NYR | 30/33 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2022-10-23 | CBJ 5–1 NYR | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2022-01-27 | CBJ 5–3 NYR | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2021-11-13 | CBJ 3–5 NYR | 36/41 SV | 31/34 SV |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
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.
Elvis Merzlikins
3games (1 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
About 0.0 expected starts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 6th-most FP to GSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT4% to start0.0 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Igor Shesterkin
4games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
About 0.8 expected starts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 2nd-most FP to GLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 3rd-most FP to GSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA81% to start1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to GSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elvis Merzlikins or Igor Shesterkin?
- In 2025-26, Elvis Merzlikins posted a .883 save percentage to Igor Shesterkin's .912. Against our expected-goals model, Merzlikins saved −7.7 goals and Shesterkin +18.8. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
- Who is better, Elvis Merzlikins or Igor Shesterkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Igor Shesterkin leads in 9 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Merzlikins and Shesterkin done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Merzlikins's team went 8–6.
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 →