Who to start · 2025-26
Alexander Nikishin vs Brent Burns
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexander Nikishin projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Burns had 35 in 82 games.
This week Nikishin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Burns has 1 left. We project Nikishin for 1.7 ESPN points to Burns's 1.2.
Alexander Nikishin has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Nikishin's biggest edges: Hits 132, Offensive-zone start % 67.9%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.043.
Burns's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, On-ice PDO 1021, Luck Meter +56.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexander Nikishin
1.50
fantasy points per game
Brent Burns
1.37
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alexander Nikishin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nikishin | Burns |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.29 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.27 | 0.28 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.58 | 0.55 |
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: Nikishin vs Burns
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nikishin 0G 0A, 2 SOG · Burns 0G 0A, 4 SOG
On the ice against each other (Nikishin's side)
9:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nikishin's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–16
- 40.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.9
- 16.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nikishin | Burns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | CAR 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | CAR 5–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Alexander Nikishin
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.2 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alexander Nikishin or Brent Burns in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexander Nikishin projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Burns had 35 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, Alexander Nikishin or Brent Burns?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alexander Nikishin leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nikishin and Burns done against each other?
- In 2 games against each other in our data, Nikishin's team went 1–1. Nikishin had 0 points (0 goals) and Burns had 0 (0 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 →