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Who to start · 2025-26

Sam Malinski vs Shayne Gostisbehere

Sam MalinskiSam MalinskiAvalanche · DefencevsShayne GostisbehereShayne GostisbehereHurricanes · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shayne Gostisbehere projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.

Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Gostisbehere had 50 in 55 games.

This week Malinski has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Gostisbehere has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Gostisbehere for 1.8 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.

Shayne Gostisbehere has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Malinski's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 116, On-ice PDO 1035, Top skating speed 22.9.

Gostisbehere's biggest edges: Power-play share 67.8%, Goals above expected +3.0, Power-play time per game 3:06.

  • • 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, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Sam Malinski

1.44

fantasy points per game

Shayne Gostisbehere

1.93

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Shayne Gostisbehere has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMalinskiGostisbehere
Goals (+2)0.180.42
Assists (+1)0.370.59
Power-play points (+0.5)0.010.14
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.200.19
Hits (+0.1)0.050.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.640.53

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 Gostisbehere

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.

MalinskiGostisbehere
2Team record in 3 meetings1
1Points in those games1

Malinski 1G 0A, 1 SOG · Gostisbehere 0G 1A, 3 SOG

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

5:50 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malinski's side

Shot attempts
9–4
69.2%
Expected goals
0.4–0.3
58.4%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Sam Malinski and Shayne Gostisbehere
DateScoreMalinskiGostisbehere
2026-01-03COL 5–3 CAR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2024-12-05COL 3–5 CAR0G 0A 0S0G 1A 1S
2024-11-09COL 6–4 CAR1G 0A 1S0G 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.

MalinskiGostisbehere

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 LAK
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Shayne Gostisbehere

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Sam Malinski or Shayne Gostisbehere in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shayne Gostisbehere projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Gostisbehere had 50 in 55 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 Shayne Gostisbehere?
On 2025-26 numbers, Shayne Gostisbehere 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 Gostisbehere done against each other?
In 3 games against each other in our data, Malinski's team went 2–1. Malinski had 1 points (1 goals) and Gostisbehere had 1 (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 →