Who to start · 2026-27
Jack Eichel vs Tommy Novak
In 2026-27, Jack Eichel scored 2.49 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tommy Novak's 1.71.
Eichel had 26 points in 21 games; Novak had 15 in 20 games.
This week Eichel has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Novak has no games left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Eichel for 2.9 to Novak's 0.0 over the games left.
Jack Eichel has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eichel's biggest edges: Hardest shot 91.3, 20+ mph bursts 89, Ice-time share 33.1%.
Novak's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.032, Ascension score 79, Forecheck xG /60 0.47.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Jack Eichel rates ahead, +5.5 to +0.2 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Eichel is cooling, On-ice xGF/60 2.41 (was 3.18); Novak is steady, Line Watch: moved down a line Nov 7.
- • Eichel, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 13): 4 G, 4 A, 4 PPP, 28 SOG.
- • Novak, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 14): 5 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Jack Eichel has the edge (Eichel wins 6, Novak wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | Eichel | Novak |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.43 | 0.40 |
| Assists / game | 0.81 | 0.35 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.33 | 0.10 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.48 | 0.25 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.67 | 1.75 |
| Hits / game | 0.33 | 0.15 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Eichel vs Novak
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Eichel 1G 8A, 22 SOG · Novak 3G 5A, 18 SOG
Eichel's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 2–1 · Eichel's defensive zone 2–1 (2024-25 to 2026-27)
On the ice against each other (Eichel's side)
8:21 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Eichel's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–11
- 35.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.0
- 36.7%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eichel | Novak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | VGK 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2026-10-17 | VGK 6–2 PIT | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2026-03-12 | VGK 6–2 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-01 | VGK 0–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-07 | VGK 4–0 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-14 | VGK 3–5 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-26 | VGK 4–5 NSH | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-04 | VGK 2–3 NSH | 0G 1A 5S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-07 | VGK 5–1 NSH | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
Faceoffs: Eichel vs Novak
Model: Jack Eichel wins 55.7% of draws against Tommy Novak on average (R shot vs L shot). Opposite-handed, so they are both strong or both weak at every dot and the dot barely matters.
| Eichel at | OZ left | OZ right | NZ left (att.) | NZ right (att.) | Centre | NZ left (def.) | NZ right (def.) | DZ left | DZ right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 57% | 53% | 58% | 55% | 56% | 58% | 55% | 59% | 56% |
| Road | 56% | 52% | 57% | 53% | 55% | 57% | 53% | 58% | 54% |
Head-to-head 2024-25 to 2026-27: Eichel 6–2 (75.0%). Blended with the model: 56.0%. The record is a bit unusual for this matchup (z 1.1); pair-specific edges are about ±2 points, so the model carries most of the weight.
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Jack Eichel
3games (1 left)
2.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 vs UTAOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Sebastian Cossa (.862)
- Fri, Nov 13 vs NSHOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.922)
- Sun, Nov 15 vs VAN2.9 pts
Tommy Novak
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 @ SJSOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.890)
- Sat, Nov 14 vs OTTOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.939)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Eichel or Tommy Novak in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Jack Eichel scored 2.49 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tommy Novak's 1.71. Eichel had 26 points in 21 games; Novak had 15 in 20 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, Jack Eichel or Tommy Novak?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Jack Eichel leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eichel and Novak done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Eichel's team went 5–4. Eichel had 9 points (1 goals) and Novak had 8 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eichel or Novak?
- Against each other, Eichel has won 6 and Novak 2 of their 8 head-to-head draws.
2026-27 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 →