Who to start · 2025-26
Brandt Clarke vs Darnell Nurse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83.
Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Nurse had 24 in 82 games.
This week Clarke has 1 game left; Nurse has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Clarke's 1.6.
Brandt Clarke has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Clarke's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.5%, Plus/minus +11, On-ice PDO 1014.
Nurse's biggest edges: Hits 137, 20+ mph bursts 101, Hardest shot 94.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandt Clarke
1.97
fantasy points per game
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandt Clarke has the edge.
| Points per game from | Clarke | Nurse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.19 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 1.11 |
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: Clarke vs Nurse
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Clarke 2G 3A, 14 SOG · Nurse 1G 3A, 27 SOG
Clarke blocked 3 of Nurse's shots; Nurse blocked 1 of Clarke's.
On the ice against each other (Clarke's side)
23:58 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Clarke's side
- Shot attempts
- 31–24
- 56.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.7
- 54.8%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Clarke | Nurse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | LAK 1–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-26 | LAK 1–8 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-10 | LAK 4–3 EDM | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | LAK 4–6 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-29 · PO | LAK 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-27 · PO | LAK 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-25 · PO | LAK 4–7 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | LAK 6–2 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | LAK 6–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-14 | LAK 5–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-05 | LAK 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-13 | LAK 0–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Brandt Clarke
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 12th-most FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to D
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to D
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandt Clarke or Darnell Nurse in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83. Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Nurse had 24 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, Brandt Clarke or Darnell Nurse?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandt Clarke leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Clarke and Nurse done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Clarke's team went 7–6. Clarke had 5 points (2 goals) and Nurse had 4 (1 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 →

