Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Wyatt Johnston
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Johnston has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Johnston for 2.5 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.7.
Wyatt Johnston has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Hardest shot 93.1, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Johnston's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.9, Blocked shots 55, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.003.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Johnston 6–4.
- • 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
Wyatt Johnston
2.41
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Wyatt Johnston has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 1.03 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.35 |
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 Johnston
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 1G 3A, 16 SOG · Johnston 2G 0A, 15 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 3–2 · neutral 1–1 · Malkin's defensive zone 2–1 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-05 | PIT 5–3 DAL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-11 | PIT 1–7 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2024-03-22 | PIT 2–4 DAL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-24 | PIT 1–4 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-23 | PIT 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-12 | PIT 2–1 DAL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
Wyatt Johnston
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Wyatt Johnston in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Johnston had 86 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 Wyatt Johnston?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Wyatt Johnston leads in 23 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 Johnston done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 2–4. Malkin had 4 points (1 goals) and Johnston had 2 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Johnston?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 6 and Johnston 4 of their 10 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 →