Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Pavel Dorofeyev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Dorofeyev's 1.90.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Dorofeyev had 64 in 82 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Dorofeyev has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Dorofeyev's 1.4.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 448, 20+ mph bursts 208, Plus/minus +17.
Dorofeyev's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.65, Ascension score 53, High-danger chances 59.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Pavel Dorofeyev
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.86 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.20 |
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: Schmaltz vs Dorofeyev
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.
Schmaltz 3G 6A, 26 SOG · Dorofeyev 5G 2A, 31 SOG
Schmaltz blocked 1 of Dorofeyev's shots; Dorofeyev blocked 0 of Schmaltz's.
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
25:45 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 28–23
- 54.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.8
- 60.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | UTA 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 0G 1A 4S | 3G 0A 5S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | UTA 4–2 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | UTA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-19 | UTA 4–0 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-24 | UTA 5–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-20 | UTA 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-30 | UTA 6–0 VGK | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-15 | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-02 | UTA 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Pavel Dorofeyev
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Pavel Dorofeyev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Dorofeyev's 1.90. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Dorofeyev had 64 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, Nick Schmaltz or Pavel Dorofeyev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Schmaltz and Dorofeyev done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 6–7. Schmaltz had 9 points (3 goals) and Dorofeyev had 7 (5 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 →