Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.023, Ascension score 53, Hits 106.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 71.8%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Goals above expected +4.3.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads MacKinnon 107–92.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eriksson Ek | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.21 |
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: Eriksson Ek vs MacKinnon
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.
Eriksson Ek 6G 8A, 90 SOG · MacKinnon 22G 35A, 144 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 26–22 · neutral 52–32 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 29–38 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Eriksson Ek blocked 5 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Eriksson Ek's.
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
35:40 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 37–52
- 41.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–2.3
- 33.9%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | MIN 2–3 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 9S |
| 2026-02-26 | MIN 5–2 COL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 8S |
| 2025-12-21 | MIN 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-28 | MIN 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-20 | MIN 3–1 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-09 | MIN 1–6 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-04-09 | MIN 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 3G 1A 10S |
| 2024-04-04 | MIN 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-03-08 | MIN 1–2 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2023-11-24 | MIN 2–3 COL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-29 | MIN 4–2 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-15 | MIN 2–3 COL | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 6S |
Latest 12 of 32 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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Joel Eriksson Ek or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 32 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 12–20. Eriksson Ek had 14 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 57 (22 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 107 and MacKinnon 92 of their 199 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 →