Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Stamkos has 1 left. We project Stamkos for 1.6 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Transition attempts /60 0.80, Fenwick 56.1%.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.8, Penalty minutes 58, Power-play share 67.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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 1G 14A, 42 SOG · Stamkos 16G 13A, 77 SOG
Ekholm blocked 2 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 2 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
13:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–11
- 56.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 78.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | EDM 3–1 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-13 | EDM 3–4 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-06 | EDM 6–2 NSH | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-14 | EDM 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-31 | EDM 5–1 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-17 | EDM 4–2 NSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-14 | EDM 4–7 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 4G 0A 7S |
| 2023-11-18 | EDM 4–6 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-08 | NSH 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-11-19 | NSH 2–3 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-04-23 | NSH 2–6 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2022-02-26 | NSH 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 5S |
Latest 12 of 23 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)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL1.6 ptsSchedule edge +12.5 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 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, Mattias Ekholm or Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 17 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 10–13. Ekholm had 15 points (1 goals) and Stamkos had 29 (16 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 →