Who to start · 2025-26
Lane Hutson vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lane Hutson projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Hutson had 78 points in 82 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Hutson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malinski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hutson for 1.5 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.
Lane Hutson has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hutson's biggest edges: Ice time per game 23:46, Ice-time share 38.9%, Power-play share 70.0%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.44, Transition attempts /60 0.77, Hardest shot 96.8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lane Hutson
2.13
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Lane Hutson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hutson | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.75 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.81 | 0.64 |
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: Hutson vs Malinski
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.
Hutson 1G 3A, 5 SOG · Malinski 1G 1A, 7 SOG
On the ice against each other (Hutson's side)
11:49 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hutson's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–11
- 65.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.8
- 34.7%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hutson | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | MTL 7–3 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-29 | MTL 2–7 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-22 | MTL 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-04 | MTL 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Lane Hutson
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.5 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Lane Hutson or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lane Hutson projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Hutson had 78 points in 82 games; Malinski had 40 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, Lane Hutson or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lane Hutson leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hutson and Malinski done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Hutson's team went 2–2. Hutson had 4 points (1 goals) and Malinski had 2 (1 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 →