Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.
Nelson's biggest edges: Expected goals 60.0%, Sequence xG 59.8%, Scoring chances 58.3%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Luck Meter +61, Ascension score 57, Offensive-zone start % 66.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Nelson 117–90.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson vs Crosby
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 19G 17A, 100 SOG · Crosby 11G 27A, 127 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 33–36 · neutral 27–46 · Nelson's defensive zone 30–35 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 0 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 2 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
1:45 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–1
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | COL 6–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-12-29 | NYI 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYI 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-05 | NYI 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-04-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-12-31 | NYI 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-27 | NYI 0–7 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-09 | NYI 4–3 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-20 | NYI 4–2 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-27 | NYI 5–1 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 41 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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nelson and Crosby done against each other?
- In 41 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 23–18. Nelson had 36 points (19 goals) and Crosby had 38 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Crosby?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 90 and Crosby 117 of their 207 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 →