Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.7 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Penalty minutes 61.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Ascension score 53, Hits 106, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.13.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Malkin 12–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.51 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.23 |
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: Malkin vs Eriksson Ek
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.
Malkin 7G 8A, 38 SOG · Eriksson Ek 3G 3A, 19 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 4–3 · neutral 2–5 · Malkin's defensive zone 3–4 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Malkin blocked 0 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 2 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
3:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–3
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 11.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-21 | PIT 0–5 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-30 | PIT 4–1 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-29 | PIT 3–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-09 | PIT 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-18 | PIT 4–3 MIN | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-06 | PIT 4–1 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-17 | PIT 6–4 MIN | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-31 | PIT 4–3 MIN | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-01-14 | PIT 7–3 MIN | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2018-12-20 | PIT 2–1 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-01-25 | PIT 6–3 MIN | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2017-10-28 | PIT 1–2 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.7 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Evgeni Malkin or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 8–4. Malkin had 15 points (7 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 9 and Eriksson Ek 12 of their 21 head-to-head draws.
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 →