Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.37, On-ice PDO 1034.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.2, 20+ mph bursts 208, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Schmaltz 7–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.30 |
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 Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 3G 7A, 31 SOG · Schmaltz 4G 6A, 16 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 4–3 · Malkin's defensive zone 1–0 (2017-18 to 2023-24)
Malkin blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Malkin's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-23 | PIT 1–6 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-12-12 | PIT 4–2 ARI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-08 | PIT 4–1 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-13 | PIT 6–2 ARI | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-19 | PIT 4–1 ARI | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-25 | PIT 6–3 ARI | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-12 | PIT 4–3 ARI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-12-06 | PIT 2–0 ARI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2017-11-18 | PIT 1–2 CHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2017-10-05 | PIT 1–10 CHI | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 1A 4S |
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)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Nick Schmaltz 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 Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 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 Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 7–3. Malkin had 10 points (3 goals) and Schmaltz had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 7 and Schmaltz 4 of their 11 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 →