Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Malkin for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.1, Offensive-zone time 44.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Cates's biggest edges: Blocked shots 51, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Hits 102.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Cates 10–2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| 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 Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 5G 14A, 34 SOG · Cates 7G 7A, 30 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 6–0 · neutral 3–2 · Malkin's defensive zone 1–0 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Malkin blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
30:59 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 35–21
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.7
- 59.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30 | PIT 7–0 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | PIT 0–1 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | PIT 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | PIT 4–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | PIT 2–5 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | PIT 0–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | PIT 2–3 PHI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-15 | PIT 6–3 PHI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-01 | PIT 5–1 PHI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-28 | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | PIT 5–4 PHI | 2G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-25 | PIT 1–6 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
1.7proj. 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)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Cates had 47 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 21 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 11–7. Malkin had 19 points (5 goals) and Cates had 14 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Cates?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 10 and Cates 2 of their 12 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 →