Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 30 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.050, Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.8, 20+ mph bursts 455, Transition attempts /60 1.83.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Malkin 17–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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 5G 10A, 35 SOG · MacKinnon 8G 15A, 56 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 3–7 · neutral 1–7 · Malkin's defensive zone 2–3 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Malkin blocked 1 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
4:35 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–5
- 44.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 44.5%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | PIT 7–2 COL | 2G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-04 | PIT 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-12-10 | PIT 2–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 4A 3S |
| 2024-03-24 | PIT 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2023-10-26 | PIT 4–0 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-22 | PIT 5–2 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-07 | PIT 2–1 COL | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-04-05 | PIT 4–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-02 | PIT 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2020-01-10 | PIT 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2018-12-04 | PIT 6–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-11-28 | PIT 3–6 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 3A 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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 30 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 6–8. Malkin had 15 points (5 goals) and MacKinnon had 23 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 6 and MacKinnon 17 of their 23 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 →