Who to start · 2025-26
Robert Thomas vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89.
Thomas had 64 points in 64 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Thomas has 1 game left; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Thomas for 1.9 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Thomas's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 547, Power-play time per game 2:31, On-ice PDO 1045.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Hits 242, Hardest shot 91.1, Forecheck xG /60 0.38.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vasily Podkolzin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Thomas | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.30 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.28 |
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: Thomas vs Podkolzin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Thomas 3G 7A, 20 SOG · Podkolzin 1G 2A, 12 SOG
Thomas's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Thomas's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Thomas's side)
9:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Thomas's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–8
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.2
- 79.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Thomas | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-13 | STL 3–2 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-03 | STL 3–2 EDM | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-09 | STL 3–4 EDM | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-04 | STL 2–3 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-07 | STL 2–4 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-23 | STL 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-30 | STL 4–3 VAN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-28 | STL 4–1 VAN | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-23 | STL 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 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.
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Robert Thomas or Vasily Podkolzin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89. Thomas had 64 points in 64 games; Podkolzin had 37 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, Robert Thomas or Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Thomas and Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Thomas's team went 5–4. Thomas had 10 points (3 goals) and Podkolzin had 3 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Thomas or Podkolzin?
- Against each other, Thomas has won 2 and Podkolzin 0 of their 2 head-to-head draws.
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 →