Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Zach Hyman
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hyman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hyman for 1.5 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hardest shot 98.4, Blocked shots 125.
Hyman's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.5, Power-play share 87.7%, Power-play time per game 3:35.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Zach Hyman
1.99
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Hyman has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Hyman |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 1.00 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 0.15 |
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 Hyman
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekholm 2G 1A, 21 SOG · Hyman 4G 6A, 38 SOG
Ekholm blocked 1 of Hyman's shots; Hyman blocked 14 of Ekholm's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
566:45 at 5-on-5 over 64 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 612–499
- 55.1%
- Expected goals
- 35.8–24.9
- 58.9%
- Goals
- 38–29
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Hyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-19 | NSH 4–3 EDM | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-13 | NSH 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 3G 1A 6S |
| 2022-11-01 | NSH 4–7 EDM | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2022-04-14 | NSH 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-27 | NSH 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-11-03 | NSH 2–5 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2020-01-27 | NSH 2–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2019-03-19 | NSH 3–0 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-22 | NSH 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-02-07 | NSH 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
Zach Hyman
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Zach Hyman in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 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 Zach Hyman?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Ekholm and Hyman done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 2–8. Ekholm had 3 points (2 goals) and Hyman had 10 (4 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 →