Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.72.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Lindell has 2 games left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Lindell for 3.5 ESPN points to Rakell's 2.1.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: Expected goals 54.9%, Sequence xG 54.7%, Plus/minus +30.
Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Top skating speed 22.8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.15 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.09 | 0.36 |
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 Rakell
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 5A, 19 SOG · Rakell 2G 3A, 35 SOG
Lindell blocked 3 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 1 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
3:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–2
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | DAL 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-05 | DAL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-11 | DAL 7–1 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-22 | DAL 4–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-24 | DAL 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-23 | DAL 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-12 | DAL 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-01-09 | DAL 3–0 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-10-24 | DAL 2–1 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-25 | DAL 5–2 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2018-10-13 | DAL 5–3 ANA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2018-04-06 | DAL 3–5 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
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.
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
3.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL1.6 ptsvs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Esa Lindell or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.72. Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindell and Rakell done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 10–4. Lindell had 5 points (0 goals) and Rakell had 5 (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 →