Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Provorov vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Provorov's 1.56.
Provorov had 31 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Provorov has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Provorov's 1.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Provorov's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.49, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Faceoffs won 0.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Offensive-zone start % 65.4%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Provorov
1.56
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Provorov | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.22 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.27 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.82 | 0.32 |
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: Provorov vs Schmaltz
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.
Provorov 2G 3A, 27 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 8A, 24 SOG
Provorov blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 2 of Provorov's.
On the ice against each other (Provorov's side)
10:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Provorov's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–6
- 68.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 60.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Provorov | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | CBJ 4–5 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-11 | CBJ 3–2 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-06 | CBJ 2–3 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-31 | CBJ 3–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-26 | CBJ 2–6 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-16 | CBJ 2–3 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-05 | PHI 6–2 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-11 | PHI 4–5 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-12-11 | PHI 5–3 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2020-01-04 | PHI 2–6 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2019-12-05 | PHI 1–3 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-11-10 | PHI 4–0 CHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Ivan Provorov
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.1 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Provorov or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Provorov's 1.56. Provorov had 31 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 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, Ivan Provorov or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 25 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Provorov and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Provorov's team went 6–8. Provorov had 5 points (2 goals) and Schmaltz had 11 (3 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 →