Who to start · 2025-26
Kevin Lankinen vs Stuart Skinner
In 2025-26, Kevin Lankinen posted a .875 save percentage to Stuart Skinner's .888.
Against our expected-goals model, Lankinen saved −18.2 goals and Skinner +5.4.
This week Lankinen has 2 games left (about 1.0 expected starts) with 1 soft matchup; Skinner has 1 left (about 0.7 expected starts). We project Skinner for 0.7 ESPN points to Lankinen's 0.4.
Stuart Skinner has the better number in 9 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.
Lankinen's biggest edges: Rebounds prevented /100 −0.25.
Skinner's biggest edges: Goals saved above expected +5.4, Shutouts 2, Wins 23.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 W, .789 SV%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 W, .867 SV%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kevin Lankinen
-1.62
fantasy points per game
Stuart Skinner
0.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Stuart Skinner has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lankinen | Skinner |
|---|---|---|
| Wins (+4) | 1.06 | 1.73 |
| Goals against (-2) | -7.54 | -5.82 |
| Saves (+0.2) | 4.75 | 4.54 |
| Shutouts (+3) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| OT losses (+1) | 0.11 | 0.18 |
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: Lankinen vs Skinner
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lankinen | Skinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | VAN 2–3 PIT | 22/25 SV | 30/32 SV |
| 2025-10-26 | VAN 4–3 EDM | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-10-11 | VAN 1–3 EDM | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-01-23 | VAN 2–6 EDM | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2025-01-18 | VAN 3–2 EDM | 0/0 SV | 24/27 SV |
| 2024-11-09 | VAN 3–7 EDM | 20/27 SV | 17/20 SV |
| 2024-01-27 | NSH 1–4 EDM | 17/20 SV | 28/29 SV |
| 2023-11-04 | NSH 5–2 EDM | 33/35 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2023-10-17 | NSH 1–6 EDM | 17/19 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2022-12-19 | NSH 4–3 EDM | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2022-12-13 | NSH 3–6 EDM | 31/36 SV | 0/0 SV |
| 2022-11-01 | NSH 4–7 EDM | 0/0 SV | 0/0 SV |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
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.
Kevin Lankinen
4games (2 left)
0.4proj. ESPN pts
About 1.0 expected starts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY18% to start0.1 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to GSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B79% to start0.3 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to GSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Stuart Skinner
2games (1 left)
0.7proj. ESPN pts
About 0.7 expected starts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET71% to start0.7 ptsLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Kevin Lankinen or Stuart Skinner?
- In 2025-26, Kevin Lankinen posted a .875 save percentage to Stuart Skinner's .888. Against our expected-goals model, Lankinen saved −18.2 goals and Skinner +5.4. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
- Who is better, Kevin Lankinen or Stuart Skinner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Stuart Skinner leads in 9 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lankinen and Skinner done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Lankinen's team went 4–9.
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 →