Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lawson Crouse projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Malinski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.
Sam Malinski has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Hits 212, Penalty minutes 46, Goals above expected +3.5.
Malinski's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.5%, Faceoffs won 0, Forecheck xG /60 0.44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Lawson Crouse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crouse | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Crouse vs Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Crouse 3G 2A, 19 SOG · Malinski 0G 3A, 13 SOG
Crouse blocked 0 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 1 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
13:38 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–15
- 46.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.4
- 69.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | UTA 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-23 | UTA 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-21 | UTA 4–3 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | UTA 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-27 | UTA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-12 | UTA 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-24 | UTA 1–5 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-27 | ARI 5–4 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-23 | ARI 1–4 COL | 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
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.
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
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 Lawson Crouse or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lawson Crouse projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Crouse had 44 points in 81 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, Lawson Crouse or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Malinski 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 Crouse and Malinski done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 3–6. Crouse had 5 points (3 goals) and Malinski had 3 (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 →