Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Shane Pinto
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shane Pinto projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Pinto had 46 in 72 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Pinto has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Pinto for 1.3 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Shane Pinto has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 59.6%, Offensive-zone time 45.7%, Corsi 56.0%.
Pinto's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.4, Luck Meter +32, Penalty minutes 42.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.59
fantasy points per game
Shane Pinto
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Shane Pinto has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Pinto |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.15 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.76 | 0.35 |
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 Pinto
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekholm 0G 4A, 11 SOG · Pinto 0G 2A, 12 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
18:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–8
- 70.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.2
- 79.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Pinto |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | EDM 5–4 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-21 | EDM 3–2 OTT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-22 | EDM 3–1 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-19 | EDM 5–2 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-24 | EDM 3–5 OTT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-14 | EDM 6–3 OTT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-09 | NSH 3–0 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-10 | NSH 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
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)
Shane Pinto
1games
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Shane Pinto in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shane Pinto projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Pinto had 46 in 72 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 Shane Pinto?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Shane Pinto leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekholm and Pinto done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 6–2. Ekholm had 4 points (0 goals) and Pinto had 2 (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 →