Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Malinski vs Sam Reinhart
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Reinhart projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Reinhart had 61 in 64 games.
This week Malinski has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Reinhart has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Reinhart for 2.5 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.
Sam Reinhart has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, 20+ mph bursts 116, On-ice PDO 1035.
Reinhart's biggest edges: Ice-time share 35.1%, Ice time per game 21:17, Power-play share 78.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Sam Reinhart
2.13
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Reinhart has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malinski | Reinhart |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.18 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.64 | 0.31 |
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: Malinski vs Reinhart
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malinski 1G 1A, 6 SOG · Reinhart 1G 0A, 12 SOG
Malinski blocked 1 of Reinhart's shots; Reinhart blocked 0 of Malinski's.
On the ice against each other (Malinski's side)
3:12 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malinski's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–2
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malinski | Reinhart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-04 | COL 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | COL 6–2 FLA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-06 | COL 3–1 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-11-23 | COL 7–4 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 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.
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.
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Sam Reinhart
3games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Malinski or Sam Reinhart in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Reinhart projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Reinhart had 61 in 64 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, Sam Malinski or Sam Reinhart?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Reinhart leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malinski and Reinhart done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Malinski's team went 3–1. Malinski had 2 points (1 goals) and Reinhart had 1 (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 →