Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Lawson Crouse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lawson Crouse projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Crouse has 2 left with 2 tough matchups. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Protas's 1.8.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Protas's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30, Forecheck xG /60 0.43, Ascension score 47.
Crouse's biggest edges: Hits 212, Penalty minutes 46, Luck Meter +45.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Lawson Crouse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.28 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.30 |
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: Protas vs Crouse
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Protas 1G 0A, 11 SOG · Crouse 0G 1A, 11 SOG
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
5:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–6
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 26.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Crouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | WSH 7–4 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-09 | WSH 4–5 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-18 | WSH 6–2 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-03 | WSH 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-04 | WSH 0–6 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-05 | WSH 2–3 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Lawson Crouse in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lawson Crouse projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 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, Aliaksei Protas or Lawson Crouse?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Protas and Crouse done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 2–4. Protas had 1 points (1 goals) and Crouse had 1 (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 →