Who to start · 2025-26
Matthew Knies vs Pavel Dorofeyev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Dorofeyev's 1.90.
Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Dorofeyev had 64 in 82 games.
This week Knies has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Dorofeyev has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Knies for 1.4 ESPN points to Dorofeyev's 1.4.
Pavel Dorofeyev has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20, 20+ mph bursts 97.
Dorofeyev's biggest edges: Corsi 56.0%, Scoring chances 57.0%, Fenwick 54.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Pavel Dorofeyev
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matthew Knies has the edge.
| Points per game from | Knies | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.86 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.20 |
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: Knies vs Dorofeyev
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.
Knies 0G 4A, 7 SOG · Dorofeyev 3G 1A, 11 SOG
On the ice against each other (Knies's side)
16:29 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Knies's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–10
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.4
- 77.5%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Knies | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | TOR 3–6 VGK | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-15 | TOR 5–6 VGK | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-05 | TOR 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-20 | TOR 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 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.
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Pavel Dorofeyev
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matthew Knies or Pavel Dorofeyev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Dorofeyev's 1.90. Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Dorofeyev had 64 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, Matthew Knies or Pavel Dorofeyev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Dorofeyev 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 Knies and Dorofeyev done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Knies's team went 1–3. Knies had 4 points (0 goals) and Dorofeyev had 4 (3 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 →

