Evgeni Malkin or Mika Zibanejad? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Mika Zibanejad. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.3 fantasy points to 2.2. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), Cs ranked 20th and 22nd at the position.
- FP/G
- 2.19
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 4.39
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Mika Zibanejad. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.3 fantasy points to 2.2.
Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad again, 3.9 category value for the week to 2.8.
Over PIT's last 5 games Evgeni Malkin played 5 games, 18:21 a night with 3:02 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over NYR's last 5 games Mika Zibanejad played 5 games, 21:13 a night with 3:56 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
PIT 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 | Evgeni Malkin | Mika Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 18:21 (5) | 21:13 (5) |
| TOI, board | 17:40 | 20:49 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:02 | 3:56 |
| Shots, last games | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Projected category value | 2.8 | 3.9 |
Schedule: Evgeni Malkin Tue @CHI, Fri @COL, Sat @VGK. Mika Zibanejad Tue TBL, Thu @NJD, Sat @CBJ.
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: Mika Zibanejad, 2.34 fantasy points per game to 2.19.
Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad again, 48th overall against 58th.
| Category (z per game) | Evgeni Malkin | Mika Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| G goals | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.7 | -0.7 |
| BLK blocked shots | -1.0 | -0.1 |
| HIT hits | -0.9 | 0.5 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Mika Zibanejad in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Mika Zibanejad. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.3 fantasy points to 2.2. Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad again, 3.9 category value for the week to 2.8. Over PIT's last 5 games Evgeni Malkin played 5 games, 18:21 a night with 3:02 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over NYR's last 5 games Mika Zibanejad played 5 games, 21:13 a night with 3:56 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. PIT has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Evgeni Malkin or Mika Zibanejad?
Season-long, points leagues: Mika Zibanejad, 2.34 fantasy points per game to 2.19. Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad again, 48th overall against 58th.
Who wins more categories, Evgeni Malkin or Mika Zibanejad?
Evgeni Malkin is ahead per game in 2 (assists, plus-minus); Mika Zibanejad in 2 (blocked shots, hits).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number