Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Sam Reinhart
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Reinhart's 2.13.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Reinhart had 61 in 64 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Reinhart has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Reinhart for 2.5 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +15, 20+ mph bursts 150, Goals above expected +1.1.
Reinhart's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.17, Hits 59, Power-play share 78.3%.
Head to head on the dot, Reinhart leads Nelson 16–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Sam Reinhart
2.13
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Reinhart |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.31 |
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: Nelson vs Reinhart
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.
Nelson 7G 12A, 68 SOG · Reinhart 9G 7A, 65 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 5–3 · neutral 1–6 · Nelson's defensive zone 6–7 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 3 of Reinhart's shots; Reinhart blocked 2 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
6:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–8
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 72.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Reinhart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-04 | COL 1–2 FLA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | COL 6–2 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-02 | NYI 3–6 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-26 | NYI 3–6 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-28 | NYI 3–2 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-01-27 | NYI 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-02 | NYI 4–3 FLA | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-23 | NYI 5–1 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-10-23 | NYI 2–3 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-13 | NYI 1–3 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-04-19 | NYI 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-16 | NYI 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Sam Reinhart
3games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Sam Reinhart in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Reinhart's 2.13. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Reinhart had 61 in 64 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 Nelson or Sam Reinhart?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Reinhart done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 16–13. Nelson had 19 points (7 goals) and Reinhart had 16 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Reinhart?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 12 and Reinhart 16 of their 28 head-to-head draws.
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 →