Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Doan vs Matvei Michkov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matvei Michkov projects to 1.51 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.34.
Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Michkov had 51 in 81 games.
This week Doan has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Michkov has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Michkov for 3.7 to Doan's 3.3 over the games left.
Josh Doan has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Doan's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.51, Hardest shot 89.1, Hits 78.
Michkov's biggest edges: Ascension score 67, Offensive-zone start % 74.2%, Penalty minutes 71.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Josh Doan rates ahead, +0.6 to -0.3 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Doan is cooling, On-ice xGF/60 2.31 (was 3.23); Michkov is rising, ixG/60 1.66 (was 0.80).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 13 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 14 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 13 SOG.
Buffalo Sabres · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Doan
+0.6
category z-score total
Matvei Michkov
-0.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Josh Doan has the edge (Doan wins 3, Michkov wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Doan | Michkov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.23 | 0.37 |
| Assists / game | 0.25 | 0.26 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.01 | -0.27 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.13 | 0.20 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.84 | 1.70 |
| Hits / game | 1.18 | 0.31 |
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: Doan vs Michkov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Doan 0G 3A, 14 SOG · Michkov 0G 2A, 7 SOG
On the ice against each other (Doan's side)
9:11 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Doan's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–10
- 23.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.8
- 34.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Doan | Michkov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-14 | BUF 5–2 PHI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-18 | BUF 5–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-03 | BUF 2–5 PHI | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-02-04 | UTA 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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
Josh Doan
2games
3.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.6 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.7 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Matvei Michkov
3games (2 left)
3.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Josh Doan or Matvei Michkov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matvei Michkov projects to 1.51 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.34. Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Michkov had 51 in 81 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, Josh Doan or Matvei Michkov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Josh Doan leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Doan and Michkov done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Doan's team went 3–1. Doan had 3 points (0 goals) and Michkov had 2 (0 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 →