Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 3.0 ESPN points to Matthews's 2.6.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, Blocked shots 81, Transition attempts /60 2.09.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Corsi 56.2%, Luck Meter +54.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.21 |
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: Matthews vs Kucherov
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.
Matthews 22G 22A, 166 SOG · Kucherov 17G 34A, 111 SOG
Matthews blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Matthews's.
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
18:37 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–22
- 42.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.2
- 29.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TOR 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 4A 1S |
| 2026-02-25 | TOR 2–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-12-08 | TOR 2–0 TBL | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-09 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-20 | TOR 5–3 TBL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-21 | TOR 5–2 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-17 | TOR 4–6 TBL | 0G 0A 12S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-03 | TOR 1–4 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2023-11-06 | TOR 6–5 TBL | 2G 1A 6S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2023-10-21 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TOR 2–1 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TOR 2–4 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 35 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.
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH3.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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, Auston Matthews or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matthews and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 35 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 19–16. Matthews had 44 points (22 goals) and Kucherov had 51 (17 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 →