Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Lindell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.13, Ice-time share 38.1%, Ice time per game 23:14.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Penalty minutes 44, Hits 102.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 0.30 |
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 Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lindell 2G 4A, 11 SOG · Cates 0G 2A, 17 SOG
Lindell blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
7:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–6
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 63.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-29 | DAL 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-15 | DAL 5–1 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-22 | DAL 3–2 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-09 | DAL 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-18 | DAL 1–5 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-21 | DAL 5–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-04-06 | DAL 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-13 | DAL 5–1 PHI | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Esa Lindell or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Lindell and Cates done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 6–2. Lindell had 6 points (2 goals) and Cates had 2 (0 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 →