Who to start · 2025-26
Neal Pionk vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Neal Pionk projects to 1.66 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.34.
Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Pionk has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Malinski has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Pionk for 3.5 to Malinski's 2.7 over the games left.
Sam Malinski has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pionk's biggest edges: Ascension score 85, Ice-time share 37.4%, Ice time per game 22:43.
Malinski's biggest edges: High-danger chances 58.1%, Top skating speed 22.9, Scoring chances 61.1%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Neal Pionk rates ahead, +3.7 to +2.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Pionk is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before); Malinski is falling, On-ice xGF/60 2.43 (was 3.70).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 17 SOG.
- • Malinski has played 9 of the Avalanche's 10 games since Sep 30 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 10 SOG.
Winnipeg Jets · Colorado Avalanche · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Neal Pionk
+3.7
category z-score total
Sam Malinski
+2.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Neal Pionk has the edge (Pionk wins 4, Malinski wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Pionk | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Assists / game | 0.32 | 0.33 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.90 | 1.67 |
| Hits / game | 2.11 | 0.64 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Pionk vs Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pionk 1G 3A, 12 SOG · Malinski 0G 2A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Pionk's side)
30:50 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Pionk's side
- Shot attempts
- 28–40
- 41.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.3
- 32.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pionk | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 | WPG 3–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-28 | WPG 4–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-26 | WPG 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-19 | WPG 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-22 | WPG 3–2 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-11 | WPG 3–0 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-31 | WPG 2–5 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-07 | WPG 1–0 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-16 | WPG 6–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-07 | WPG 4–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Neal Pionk
3games (2 left)
3.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ STLOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ DAL1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MTL1.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Sam Malinski
4games (2 left)
2.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ PHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ NJDB2B
- Fri, Oct 23 vs TBL1.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ NSH1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Neal Pionk or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Neal Pionk projects to 1.66 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.34. Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Malinski had 40 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, Neal Pionk or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Malinski leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pionk and Malinski done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Pionk's team went 7–3. Pionk had 4 points (1 goals) and Malinski 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 →