Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Malinski vs Wyatt Johnston
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 games.
This week Malinski has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Johnston has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Johnston for 2.5 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.
Wyatt Johnston has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malinski's biggest edges: Corsi 59.0%, Fenwick 58.7%, Plus/minus +43.
Johnston's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.003, Ice time per game 20:07, Ice-time share 33.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Wyatt Johnston
2.41
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Wyatt Johnston has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malinski | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.18 | 1.03 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.64 | 0.35 |
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 Johnston
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 0G 3A, 21 SOG · Johnston 5G 5A, 25 SOG
Malinski blocked 1 of Johnston's shots; Johnston blocked 0 of Malinski's.
On the ice against each other (Malinski's side)
18:53 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Malinski's side
- Shot attempts
- 30–12
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.7
- 48.8%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malinski | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | COL 2–0 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-18 | COL 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-06 | COL 5–4 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-11 | COL 4–5 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-05-03 · PO | COL 2–4 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | COL 7–4 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | COL 2–6 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | COL 4–0 DAL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | COL 1–2 DAL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-16 | COL 4–3 DAL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-29 | COL 3–5 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
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)
Wyatt Johnston
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.5 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Malinski or Wyatt Johnston in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Johnston had 86 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, Sam Malinski or Wyatt Johnston?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Wyatt Johnston leads in 18 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 Johnston done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Malinski's team went 5–6. Malinski had 3 points (0 goals) and Johnston had 10 (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 →