Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Steven Stamkos's 2.00.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stamkos for 2.0 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, On-ice PDO 1034.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.0, Faceoff win % 57.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.085.
Head to head on the dot, Stamkos leads Malkin 22–19.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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 7G 12A, 42 SOG · Stamkos 11G 7A, 46 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 6–7 · neutral 9–11 · Malkin's defensive zone 4–4 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
11:32 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–11
- 47.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.4
- 68.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-16 | PIT 4–0 NSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-14 | PIT 1–2 NSH | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-19 | PIT 5–4 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-06 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 2G 1A 5S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2023-12-06 | PIT 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-30 | PIT 4–2 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-02 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-26 | PIT 7–3 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-15 | PIT 6–2 TBL | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-03 | PIT 5–1 TBL | 1G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-06 | PIT 2–4 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-01-30 | PIT 4–2 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Steven Stamkos 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 Steven Stamkos's 2.00. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Stamkos had 66 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 24 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 9–6. Malkin had 19 points (7 goals) and Stamkos had 18 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 19 and Stamkos 22 of their 41 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 →