Blake Coleman or Nikolaj Ehlers? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nikolaj Ehlers, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.71 fantasy points to 1.71. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 28th and 29th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nikolaj Ehlers, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.71 fantasy points to 1.71.
Categories leagues: Blake Coleman instead, -2.7 category value for the week to -4.0, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over MIN's last 5 games Blake Coleman played 5 games, 15:58 a night with 0:56 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
Over CAR's last 5 games Nikolaj Ehlers played 5 games, 14:17 a night with 3:32 on the power play: line 4 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Nikolaj Ehlers's ice time is down: 14:17 over his last 5 games against 16:22 on the board.
MIN has a back-to-back and CAR has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | Blake Coleman | Nikolaj Ehlers |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 2 | Line 4 |
| Power-play unit | PP2 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 15:58 (5) | 14:17 (5) |
| TOI, board | 16:56 | 16:22 |
| PP TOI, last games | 0:56 | 3:32 |
| Shots, last games | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Projected category value | -2.7 | -4.0 |
Schedule: Blake Coleman Mon VGK, Tue @WPG, Thu STL, Sun CBJ. Nikolaj Ehlers Tue WSH, Sat @WPG, Sun @CGY.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
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The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Nikolaj Ehlers, 1.71 fantasy points per game to 1.71.
Categories leagues: Blake Coleman instead, 124th overall against 145th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Blake Coleman | Nikolaj Ehlers |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -1.5 | 0.1 |
| G goals | -0.0 | -0.5 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.2 | -0.4 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.2 | -1.0 |
| HIT hits | 1.3 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | -0.9 | 0.7 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Blake Coleman or Nikolaj Ehlers in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nikolaj Ehlers, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.71 fantasy points to 1.71. Categories leagues: Blake Coleman instead, -2.7 category value for the week to -4.0, because his category mix is worth more there. Over MIN's last 5 games Blake Coleman played 5 games, 15:58 a night with 0:56 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. Over CAR's last 5 games Nikolaj Ehlers played 5 games, 14:17 a night with 3:32 on the power play: line 4 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Nikolaj Ehlers's ice time is down: 14:17 over his last 5 games against 16:22 on the board. MIN has a back-to-back and CAR has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Blake Coleman or Nikolaj Ehlers?
Season-long, points leagues: Nikolaj Ehlers, 1.71 fantasy points per game to 1.71. Categories leagues: Blake Coleman instead, 124th overall against 145th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Blake Coleman or Nikolaj Ehlers?
Blake Coleman is ahead per game in 5 (goals, plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, shots on goal); Nikolaj Ehlers in 2 (assists, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number