Eeli Tolvanen or Valeri Nichushkin? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Valeri Nichushkin, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.54 fantasy points to 1.52. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 41st and 42nd at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Valeri Nichushkin, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.54 fantasy points to 1.52.
Categories leagues: Eeli Tolvanen instead, -4.3 category value for the week to -7.2, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over NYR's last 5 games Eeli Tolvanen played 5 games, 13:18 a night with 0:50 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
Eeli Tolvanen's ice time is down: 13:18 over his last 5 games against 15:15 on the board.
Over CBJ's last 5 games Valeri Nichushkin played 5 games, 16:08 a night with 1:18 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
CBJ 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 | Eeli Tolvanen | Valeri Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Line by ice time | Line 3 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP2 | PP2 |
| TOI, last games | 13:18 (5) | 16:08 (5) |
| TOI, board | 15:15 | 17:24 |
| PP TOI, last games | 0:50 | 1:18 |
| Shots, last games | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Projected category value | -4.3 | -7.2 |
Schedule: Eeli Tolvanen Tue TBL, Thu @NJD, Sat @CBJ. Valeri Nichushkin Tue FLA, Sat NYR, Sun @MIN.
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: Valeri Nichushkin, 1.54 fantasy points per game to 1.52.
Categories leagues: Eeli Tolvanen instead, 153rd overall against 220th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Eeli Tolvanen | Valeri Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -1.2 | -0.3 |
| G goals | -0.6 | -0.5 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.2 | -0.3 |
| BLK blocked shots | 0.5 | -0.7 |
| HIT hits | 1.4 | -0.2 |
| PPP power-play points | -0.9 | -1.2 |
| SOG shots on goal | -1.0 | -0.3 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Eeli Tolvanen or Valeri Nichushkin in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Valeri Nichushkin, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.54 fantasy points to 1.52. Categories leagues: Eeli Tolvanen instead, -4.3 category value for the week to -7.2, because his category mix is worth more there. Over NYR's last 5 games Eeli Tolvanen played 5 games, 13:18 a night with 0:50 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. Eeli Tolvanen's ice time is down: 13:18 over his last 5 games against 15:15 on the board. Over CBJ's last 5 games Valeri Nichushkin played 5 games, 16:08 a night with 1:18 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. CBJ has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Eeli Tolvanen or Valeri Nichushkin?
Season-long, points leagues: Valeri Nichushkin, 1.54 fantasy points per game to 1.52. Categories leagues: Eeli Tolvanen instead, 153rd overall against 220th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Eeli Tolvanen or Valeri Nichushkin?
Eeli Tolvanen is ahead per game in 4 (plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, power-play points); Valeri Nichushkin in 3 (assists, goals, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number