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Who to start · 2025-26

Mike Matheson vs William Eklund

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.

Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.

This week Matheson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Matheson for 1.3 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.

William Eklund has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Matheson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +9, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Faceoffs won 0.

Eklund's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.9%, High-danger chances 52.0%, Corsi 50.1%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mike Matheson

1.77

fantasy points per game

William Eklund

1.62

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMathesonEklund
Goals (+2)0.180.38
Assists (+1)0.380.49
Power-play points (+0.5)0.010.10
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.23
Hits (+0.1)0.080.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.960.33

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: Matheson vs Eklund

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MathesonEklund
3Team record in 6 meetings3
5Points in those games6

Matheson 0G 5A, 14 SOG · Eklund 1G 5A, 9 SOG

1Hits on each other1
1Shots blocked by the other3

Matheson blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 3 of Matheson's.

On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)

6:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side

Shot attempts
8–8
50.0%
Expected goals
0.3–0.5
39.7%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Mike Matheson and William Eklund
DateScoreMathesonEklund
2026-03-14MTL 2–4 SJS0G 0A 2S0G 1A 3S
2026-03-03MTL 5–7 SJS0G 3A 3S0G 1A 0S
2025-02-27MTL 4–3 SJS0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2025-02-04MTL 4–3 SJS0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2024-01-11MTL 2–3 SJS0G 2A 6S0G 1A 3S
2023-11-24MTL 3–2 SJS0G 0A 1S1G 1A 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.

MathesonEklund

Fantasy box score

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.

Mike Matheson

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ TOR
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 pts
    Opp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)

William Eklund

1games

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.2 pts
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)

FAQ

Should I start Mike Matheson or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62. Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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, Mike Matheson or William Eklund?
On 2025-26 numbers, William Eklund leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Matheson and Eklund done against each other?
In 6 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 3–3. Matheson had 5 points (0 goals) and Eklund had 6 (1 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 →