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Who to start · 2025-26

Evgeni Malkin vs Vasily Podkolzin

Evgeni MalkinEvgeni MalkinPenguins · CentrevsVasily PodkolzinVasily PodkolzinOilers · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91.

Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.

This week Malkin has 1 game left; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.

Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Malkin's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:09, Power-play share 72.1%, Power-play points 22.

Podkolzin's biggest edges: Ascension score 78, Hits 242, Top skating speed 23.1.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Evgeni Malkin

2.12

fantasy points per game

Vasily Podkolzin

1.91

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMalkinPodkolzin
Goals (+2)0.760.76
Assists (+1)0.700.25
Power-play points (+0.5)0.220.10
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.21
Hits (+0.1)0.040.30
Blocks (+0.5)0.140.28

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 Podkolzin

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MalkinPodkolzin
1Team record in 3 meetings2
3Points in those games1

Malkin 1G 2A, 4 SOG · Podkolzin 0G 1A, 7 SOG

1Faceoffs against each other0

Malkin's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Malkin's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)

On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)

2:35 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side

Shot attempts
0–2
0.0%
Expected goals
0.0–0.0
0.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Evgeni Malkin and Vasily Podkolzin
DateScoreMalkinPodkolzin
2026-01-22PIT 6–2 EDM1G 1A 2S0G 0A 2S
2024-10-25PIT 0–4 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 4S
2022-10-28PIT 1–5 VAN0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MalkinPodkolzin

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ PHI
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to C
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 pts
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to C

Vasily Podkolzin

3games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to RW
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to RW
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to RW

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Vasily Podkolzin 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 Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Podkolzin had 37 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 Vasily Podkolzin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 17 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 Podkolzin done against each other?
In 3 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 1–2. Malkin had 3 points (1 goals) and Podkolzin had 1 (0 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Podkolzin?
Against each other, Malkin has won 1 and Podkolzin 0 of their 1 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 →