Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Nikolaj Ehlers
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Ehlers has 1 left. We project Ehlers for 1.8 ESPN points to Lindell's 1.7.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1038, Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 179.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.6, Offensive-zone time 46.9%, Transition attempts /60 1.78.
- • 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, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Lindell vs Ehlers
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 1G 3A, 45 SOG · Ehlers 9G 16A, 75 SOG
Lindell blocked 13 of Ehlers's shots; Ehlers blocked 0 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
11:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–16
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.8
- 52.0%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | DAL 3–6 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2025-10-25 | DAL 3–2 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-05-17 · PO | DAL 2–1 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-15 · PO | DAL 0–4 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2025-05-13 · PO | DAL 3–1 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-05-11 · PO | DAL 5–2 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-05-09 · PO | DAL 0–4 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2025-05-07 · PO | DAL 3–2 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-10 | DAL 0–4 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-14 | DAL 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-09 | DAL 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-11 | DAL 0–3 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 28 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)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.7 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Nikolaj Ehlers
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Esa Lindell or Nikolaj Ehlers 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 Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Lindell had 32 points in 82 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, Esa Lindell or Nikolaj Ehlers?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 24 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 Ehlers done against each other?
- In 28 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 14–14. Lindell had 4 points (1 goals) and Ehlers had 25 (9 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 →