Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Esa Lindell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.72.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Lindell has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Lindell's 1.9.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, 20+ mph bursts 124, Hardest shot 88.4.
Lindell's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Expected goals 54.9%, Sequence xG 54.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Lindell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.10 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 1.09 |
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 Lindell
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.
Rust 3G 1A, 25 SOG · Lindell 0G 3A, 12 SOG
Rust blocked 3 of Lindell's shots; Lindell blocked 3 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
14:29 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–16
- 36.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 36.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Lindell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | PIT 3–6 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-07 | PIT 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-05 | PIT 5–3 DAL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-11 | PIT 1–7 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-03-22 | PIT 2–4 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-24 | PIT 1–4 DAL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-23 | PIT 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-12 | PIT 2–1 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-10-26 | PIT 3–0 DAL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-03-23 | PIT 3–2 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-11-21 | PIT 5–1 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-02-09 | PIT 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Esa Lindell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Esa Lindell's 1.72. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 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 Esa Lindell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 21 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 Lindell done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 5–7. Rust had 4 points (3 goals) and Lindell had 3 (0 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 →