Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, 20+ mph bursts 176, Top skating speed 22.8.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Thompson 8–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.28 |
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 Thompson
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 4G 21A, 46 SOG · Thompson 8G 6A, 50 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 3–2 · neutral 2–2 · Malkin's defensive zone 3–0 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
6:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–6
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 34.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | PIT 1–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-02-05 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-11-26 | PIT 4–2 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-17 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-10-16 | PIT 6–5 BUF | 1G 3A 7S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | PIT 1–3 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-11 | PIT 4–0 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-10 | PIT 3–1 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-12-09 | PIT 4–3 BUF | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-02 | PIT 3–6 BUF | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-23 | PIT 3–4 BUF | 1G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2021-05-08 | PIT 1–0 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 19 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)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 20 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 12–7. Malkin had 25 points (4 goals) and Thompson had 14 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Thompson?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 8 and Thompson 4 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 →