Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Bryan Rust
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Rust had 65 in 72 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rust has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 518, Expected goals 57.0%, Sequence xG 56.9%.
Rust's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Power-play share 74.5%, Power-play time per game 3:18.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.69
fantasy points per game
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.65 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.49 |
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 Rust
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 12G 3A, 32 SOG · Rust 3G 4A, 48 SOG
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
4:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–3
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 79.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Rust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | TBL 6–3 PIT | 3G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-13 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-04 | TBL 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-25 | TBL 6–1 PIT | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-12 | TBL 5–2 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-19 | TBL 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-06 | TBL 3–1 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-30 | TBL 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-03-03 | TBL 1–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2021-10-12 | TBL 2–6 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 17 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)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Bryan Rust in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Rust had 65 in 72 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 Bryan Rust?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Rust done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 10–7. Cirelli had 15 points (12 goals) and Rust had 7 (3 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 →