Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Elias Pettersson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Pettersson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Luck Meter +32, Goals above expected +1.5, On-ice PDO 1019.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 642, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.002, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Elias Pettersson
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.41 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.73 |
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: Rust vs Pettersson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rust 5G 7A, 40 SOG · Pettersson 6G 8A, 24 SOG
Rust blocked 1 of Pettersson's shots; Pettersson blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
9:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–5
- 70.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 71.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | PIT 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-21 | PIT 5–1 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-27 | PIT 5–4 VAN | 2G 1A 7S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-26 | PIT 3–4 VAN | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-11 | PIT 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2023-01-10 | PIT 5–4 VAN | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2022-10-28 | PIT 1–5 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-24 | PIT 4–1 VAN | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-21 | PIT 1–4 VAN | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2019-11-27 | PIT 8–6 VAN | 1G 3A 7S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2018-10-27 | PIT 5–0 VAN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.3 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Elias Pettersson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 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, Bryan Rust or Elias Pettersson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 25 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Pettersson done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 7–4. Rust had 12 points (5 goals) and Pettersson had 14 (6 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 →