Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Morgan Rielly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Morgan Rielly's 1.61.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Rielly had 36 in 78 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Rielly has 1 left. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Rielly's 1.5.
Morgan Rielly has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: Plus/minus +30, Expected goals 54.9%, Sequence xG 54.7%.
Rielly's biggest edges: Ascension score 60, 20+ mph bursts 71, Transition attempts /60 0.63.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Morgan Rielly
1.61
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Rielly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.25 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.06 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 0.67 |
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 Rielly
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 0G 4A, 12 SOG · Rielly 1G 13A, 24 SOG
Lindell blocked 0 of Rielly's shots; Rielly blocked 1 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
10:33 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–12
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.7
- 19.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Rielly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | DAL 6–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-21 | DAL 5–1 TOR | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-01-14 | DAL 4–1 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-18 | DAL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-02-07 | DAL 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | DAL 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-20 | DAL 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-15 | DAL 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2018-11-01 | DAL 2–1 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-10-09 | DAL 4–7 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 4A 3S |
| 2018-03-14 | DAL 5–6 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
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)
Morgan Rielly
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.5 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Esa Lindell or Morgan Rielly 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 Morgan Rielly's 1.61. Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Rielly had 36 in 78 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 Morgan Rielly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Morgan Rielly leads in 18 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 Rielly done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 4–7. Lindell had 4 points (0 goals) and Rielly had 14 (1 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 →