Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Faber 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 Brock Faber's 2.09.
Faber had 51 points in 80 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Faber has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Faber's 1.4.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Faber's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 148, Top skating speed 23.0.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Offensive-zone time 45.7%, On-ice PDO 1046.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Faber
2.09
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Faber | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.93 | 0.19 |
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: Faber vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Faber 3G 2A, 13 SOG · Kucherov 2G 6A, 20 SOG
Faber blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Faber's.
On the ice against each other (Faber's side)
15:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Faber's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–22
- 48.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.6
- 69.0%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Faber | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | MIN 3–6 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-03 | MIN 5–1 TBL | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-01 | MIN 5–3 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2024-10-24 | MIN 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-18 | MIN 3–7 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 5S |
| 2024-01-04 | MIN 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Brock Faber
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.4 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Faber 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 Brock Faber's 2.09. Faber had 51 points in 80 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, Brock Faber or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Faber and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Faber's team went 3–3. Faber had 5 points (3 goals) and Kucherov had 8 (2 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 →