Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Travis Sanheim
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.30 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Travis Sanheim's 1.78.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Sanheim had 37 in 81 games.
This week Malkin has no games left; Sanheim has no games left.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Sanheim's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.12, Top skating speed 22.7, Blocked shots 152.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.30
fantasy points per game
Travis Sanheim
1.78
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Sanheim |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.34 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.78 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.14 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.89 |
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 Sanheim
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 13G 28A, 93 SOG · Sanheim 5G 8A, 57 SOG
Malkin blocked 2 of Sanheim's shots; Sanheim blocked 2 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
46:43 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 44–37
- 54.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–2.2
- 39.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Sanheim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30 | PIT 7–0 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | PIT 0–1 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | PIT 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | PIT 4–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | PIT 2–5 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | PIT 0–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | PIT 2–3 PHI | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-15 | PIT 6–3 PHI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-01 | PIT 5–1 PHI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-28 | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | PIT 5–4 PHI | 2G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-25 | PIT 1–6 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 39 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 (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Travis Sanheim
3games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 6th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAROpp allows 10th-most FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Travis Sanheim in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.30 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Travis Sanheim's 1.78. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Sanheim had 37 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 Travis Sanheim?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Sanheim done against each other?
- In 39 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 22–17. Malkin had 41 points (13 goals) and Sanheim had 13 (5 goals).
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 →