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Who to start · 2025-26

Nick Schmaltz vs Ryan Pulock

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Pulock's 1.54.

Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Pulock had 27 in 76 games.

This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Pulock has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Pulock's 1.8.

Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Schmaltz's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Scoring chances 55.7%, Expected goals 55.8%.

Pulock's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.56, Hits 49, Hardest shot 103.0.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Nick Schmaltz

2.05

fantasy points per game

Ryan Pulock

1.54

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromSchmaltzPulock
Goals (+2)0.880.07
Assists (+1)0.470.30
Power-play points (+0.5)0.110.01
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.11
Hits (+0.1)0.030.07
Blocks (+0.5)0.300.98

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 Pulock

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.

SchmaltzPulock
5Team record in 12 meetings7
8Points in those games9

Schmaltz 3G 5A, 21 SOG · Pulock 1G 8A, 21 SOG

0Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other1

Schmaltz blocked 0 of Pulock's shots; Pulock blocked 1 of Schmaltz's.

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

13:25 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side

Shot attempts
15–6
71.4%
Expected goals
0.6–0.1
81.8%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Nick Schmaltz and Ryan Pulock
DateScoreSchmaltzPulock
2026-01-01UTA 7–2 NYI2G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S
2025-11-14UTA 2–3 NYI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-11UTA 1–2 NYI1G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2024-10-10UTA 5–4 NYI0G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2023-10-17ARI 0–1 NYI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2022-12-16ARI 5–4 NYI0G 3A 1S0G 0A 4S
2021-10-23ARI 0–3 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2020-02-17ARI 2–1 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2019-10-24ARI 2–4 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2018-12-18ARI 1–3 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 2A 1S
2018-03-24CHI 3–1 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2018-01-20CHI 3–7 NYI0G 1A 1S1G 4A 4S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

SchmaltzPulock

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.

Nick Schmaltz

3games (2 left)

3.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 pts
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)

Ryan Pulock

2games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to DLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

FAQ

Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Ryan Pulock 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 Ryan Pulock's 1.54. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Pulock had 27 in 76 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 Ryan Pulock?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 28 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 Pulock done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 5–7. Schmaltz had 8 points (3 goals) and Pulock had 9 (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 →