Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.72.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; O'Reilly has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project O'Reilly for 2.0 ESPN points to Lindell's 1.9.
Ryan O'Reilly has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: Expected goals 54.9%, Hits 30, Sequence xG 54.7%.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.007.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan O'Reilly has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 0.38 |
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 O'Reilly
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 8A, 50 SOG · O'Reilly 10G 23A, 72 SOG
Lindell blocked 3 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 2 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
24:44 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–26
- 45.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.7
- 60.7%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | DAL 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | DAL 5–4 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-10-26 | DAL 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-16 | DAL 1–5 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-04-03 | DAL 5–1 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-12 | DAL 1–4 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-10 | DAL 4–3 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-15 | DAL 9–2 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-12 | DAL 3–6 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-01-06 | DAL 3–4 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-12-23 | DAL 3–2 NSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-28 | DAL 4–1 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 34 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 D
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Esa Lindell or Ryan O'Reilly in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.72. Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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 Ryan O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan O'Reilly 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 O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 18–16. Lindell had 10 points (2 goals) and O'Reilly had 33 (10 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 →