Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Esa Lindell has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 0:45, On-ice PDO 1038, Ice time per game 23:14.
Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Transition attempts /60 0.50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 0.87 |
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: Lindell vs Cole
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lindell 2G 2A, 28 SOG · Cole 2G 4A, 24 SOG
Lindell blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 1 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
17:16 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–7
- 72.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.1
- 88.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | DAL 3–6 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-31 | DAL 3–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-15 | DAL 1–2 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-28 | DAL 4–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | DAL 3–2 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-23 | DAL 3–2 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-02 | DAL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-28 | DAL 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-21 | DAL 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-04 | DAL 0–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-11 | DAL 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-15 | DAL 4–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Esa Lindell or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Cole had 23 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, Esa Lindell or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Esa Lindell leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindell and Cole done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 15–8. Lindell had 4 points (2 goals) and Cole had 6 (2 goals).
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 →