Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038, Blocked shots 125, High-danger chances 58.3%.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.3, On-ice PDO 1054, 20+ mph bursts 455.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 0.21 |
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: Ekholm vs MacKinnon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekholm 6G 13A, 69 SOG · MacKinnon 21G 20A, 175 SOG
Ekholm blocked 9 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
18:44 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 23–20
- 53.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.5
- 28.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | EDM 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-10 | EDM 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | EDM 1–9 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 2A 6S |
| 2025-02-07 | EDM 4–5 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2025-01-16 | EDM 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-30 | EDM 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-04-11 | EDM 2–1 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2022-11-10 | NSH 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 8S |
| 2022-05-09 · PO | NSH 3–5 COL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 9S |
| 2022-05-07 · PO | NSH 3–7 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 33 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.
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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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, Mattias Ekholm or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekholm and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 18–15. Ekholm had 19 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 41 (21 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 →