Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Burns's 0.9.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.093, Forecheck xG /60 0.38, High-danger chances 56.1%.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 71.8%, 20+ mph bursts 455, Ice-time share 36.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 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: Burns vs MacKinnon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Burns 8G 18A, 97 SOG · MacKinnon 11G 24A, 123 SOG
Burns blocked 6 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 6 of Burns's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
296:51 at 5-on-5 over 88 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 374–308
- 54.8%
- Expected goals
- 17.8–14.7
- 54.8%
- Goals
- 25–12
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-05 | CAR 5–3 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-09 | CAR 4–6 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2024-02-08 | CAR 5–2 COL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-21 | CAR 4–6 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-17 | CAR 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-12 | CAR 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-31 | SJS 2–4 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-18 | SJS 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 0S |
| 2021-05-05 | SJS 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-03 | SJS 4–5 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 9S |
| 2021-05-01 | SJS 3–4 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 9S |
| 2021-04-30 | SJS 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 30 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)
0.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 12–18. Burns had 26 points (8 goals) and MacKinnon had 35 (11 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 →