Cutter Gauthier or Nick Schmaltz? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nick Schmaltz. Nick Schmaltz counts 2 games left to 1 for Cutter Gauthier, for 4.9 projected fantasy points against 2.4. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 8th and 15th at the position.
- FP/G
- 2.45
- Games
- 1
- Week proj.
- 2.45
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nick Schmaltz. Nick Schmaltz counts 2 games left to 1 for Cutter Gauthier, for 4.9 projected fantasy points against 2.4.
Categories leagues: Nick Schmaltz again, 3.3 category value for the week to 1.5.
Over ANA's last 5 games Cutter Gauthier played 5 games, 16:42 a night with 3:40 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over UTA's last 5 games Nick Schmaltz played 5 games, 18:46 a night with 5:06 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
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 | Cutter Gauthier | Nick Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 1 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 16:42 (5) | 18:46 (5) |
| TOI, board | 17:09 | 19:29 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:40 | 5:06 |
| Shots, last games | 3.4 | 4.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 2.4 | 4.9 |
| Projected category value | 1.5 | 3.3 |
Schedule: Cutter Gauthier Tue CGY, Fri BOS. Nick Schmaltz Tue TOR, Thu @EDM, Sat EDM.
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: Cutter Gauthier, 2.45 fantasy points per game to 2.44.
Categories leagues: Nick Schmaltz instead, 53rd overall against 55th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Cutter Gauthier | Nick Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.6 | -0.2 |
| G goals | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.9 | -0.1 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.9 | -0.4 |
| HIT hits | -0.2 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| SOG shots on goal | 2.1 | 0.8 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Cutter Gauthier or Nick Schmaltz in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nick Schmaltz. Nick Schmaltz counts 2 games left to 1 for Cutter Gauthier, for 4.9 projected fantasy points against 2.4. Categories leagues: Nick Schmaltz again, 3.3 category value for the week to 1.5. Over ANA's last 5 games Cutter Gauthier played 5 games, 16:42 a night with 3:40 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over UTA's last 5 games Nick Schmaltz played 5 games, 18:46 a night with 5:06 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Cutter Gauthier or Nick Schmaltz?
Season-long, points leagues: Cutter Gauthier, 2.45 fantasy points per game to 2.44. Categories leagues: Nick Schmaltz instead, 53rd overall against 55th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Cutter Gauthier or Nick Schmaltz?
Cutter Gauthier is ahead per game in 2 (hits, shots on goal); Nick Schmaltz in 5 (assists, goals, plus-minus, blocked shots, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number