Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Evgeni Malkin vs Matthew Knies

Evgeni MalkinEvgeni MalkinPenguins · CentrevsMatthew KniesMatthew KniesBlue Jackets · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06.

Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.

This week Malkin has 1 game left; Knies has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.

Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Sequence xG 53.9%, Expected goals 53.5%.

Knies's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Hits 152, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Evgeni Malkin

2.12

fantasy points per game

Matthew Knies

2.06

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMalkinKnies
Goals (+2)0.760.80
Assists (+1)0.700.57
Power-play points (+0.5)0.220.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.19
Hits (+0.1)0.040.18
Blocks (+0.5)0.140.19

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 Knies

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MalkinKnies
2Team record in 8 meetings6
4Points in those games10

Malkin 0G 4A, 26 SOG · Knies 5G 5A, 18 SOG

0Hits on each other1
1Shots blocked by the other0

Malkin blocked 1 of Knies's shots; Knies blocked 0 of Malkin's.

On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)

7:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side

Shot attempts
8–3
72.7%
Expected goals
0.2–0.2
40.2%
Goals
0–2

Games against each other

Games between Evgeni Malkin and Matthew Knies
DateScoreMalkinKnies
2025-11-29PIT 2–7 TOR0G 0A 6S0G 2A 2S
2025-11-03PIT 3–4 TOR0G 1A 8S0G 1A 0S
2025-03-02PIT 5–6 TOR0G 0A 3S1G 1A 4S
2024-12-07PIT 5–2 TOR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2024-10-12PIT 2–4 TOR0G 2A 1S1G 0A 3S
2024-04-08PIT 2–3 TOR0G 1A 3S1G 0A 1S
2023-12-16PIT 0–7 TOR0G 0A 2S1G 1A 2S
2023-11-25PIT 3–2 TOR0G 0A 3S1G 0A 5S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MalkinKnies

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ PHI
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 pts
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Matthew Knies

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs BUF
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Matthew Knies 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 Matthew Knies's 2.06. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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 Matthew Knies?
On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 19 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 Knies done against each other?
In 8 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 2–6. Malkin had 4 points (0 goals) and Knies had 10 (5 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 →