Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns 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 Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Rust had 65 in 72 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left; Rust has 1 left. We project Rust for 1.9 ESPN points to Burns's 1.2.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Transition attempts /60 0.90, Expected goals 55.3%.
Rust's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 63.3%, Ice-time share 32.7%, Ice time per game 19:57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.37
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 | Burns | Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.29 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.28 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 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: Burns vs Rust
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.
Burns 6G 5A, 54 SOG · Rust 9G 10A, 39 SOG
Burns blocked 0 of Rust's shots; Rust blocked 3 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
6:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–7
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 67.8%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Rust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | COL 6–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-16 | COL 2–7 PIT | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-05 | CAR 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-18 | CAR 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-26 | CAR 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-13 | CAR 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-18 | CAR 4–2 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-14 | CAR 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-22 | CAR 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-18 | CAR 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-29 | CAR 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-02 | SJS 5–8 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 3G 2A 5S |
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.
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.2 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.9 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns 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 Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 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, Brent Burns or Bryan Rust?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and Rust done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 13–4. Burns had 11 points (6 goals) and Rust had 19 (9 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 →