Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Brock Nelson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Nelson had 65 in 81 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Nelson has 1 left. We project Nelson for 2.0 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.7.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Luck Meter +50, Ascension score 55, On-ice PDO 1052.
Nelson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.0%, Power-play time per game 3:14, Power-play share 62.4%.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Nelson 46–39.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Nelson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.89 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.38 |
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: Cirelli vs Nelson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 6G 9A, 36 SOG · Nelson 7G 4A, 58 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 16–8 · neutral 12–14 · Cirelli's defensive zone 18–17 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Nelson's shots; Nelson blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
8:40 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–7
- 65.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 52.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | TBL 4–2 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-04 | TBL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-01 | TBL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-30 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-24 | TBL 4–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-08 | TBL 2–6 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-04-01 | TBL 5–0 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-29 | TBL 6–4 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-27 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-11-15 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-06-25 · PO | TBL 1–0 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-06-23 · PO | TBL 2–3 NYI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 24 meetings.
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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 pts
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Brock Nelson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Nelson had 65 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, Anthony Cirelli or Brock Nelson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Nelson done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 15–9. Cirelli had 15 points (6 goals) and Nelson had 11 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Nelson?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 46 and Nelson 39 of their 85 head-to-head draws.
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 →