Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Justin Faulk
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Justin Faulk's 1.81.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Faulk had 40 in 78 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Faulk has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Faulk for 1.8 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Plus/minus +13, Sequence xG 53.9%.
Faulk's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.7, 20+ mph bursts 69, Blocked shots 132.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Justin Faulk
1.81
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Faulk |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.79 |
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 Faulk
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 4G 9A, 49 SOG · Faulk 2G 3A, 29 SOG
Malkin blocked 0 of Faulk's shots; Faulk blocked 1 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
12:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–7
- 70.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.6–0.1
- 91.7%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Faulk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | PIT 5–1 DET | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-27 | PIT 6–3 STL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-13 | PIT 5–3 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | PIT 2–4 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-02-25 | PIT 3–2 STL | 1G 1A 6S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-03 | PIT 6–2 STL | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-17 | PIT 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-12-04 | PIT 3–0 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-11-30 | PIT 2–5 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2018-12-22 | PIT 3–0 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-02-23 | PIT 6–1 CAR | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2018-01-23 | PIT 3–1 CAR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Justin Faulk
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.8 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to DLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Justin Faulk 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 Justin Faulk's 1.81. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Faulk had 40 in 78 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 Justin Faulk?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Faulk done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 10–4. Malkin had 13 points (4 goals) and Faulk 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 →