Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Jackson LaCombe
In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jackson LaCombe's 2.01.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; LaCombe had 58 in 82 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; LaCombe has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project LaCombe for 3.4 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.2, On-ice PDO 1019, Luck Meter +44.
LaCombe's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.009, Expected goals 51.9%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Jackson LaCombe
2.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | LaCombe |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.24 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.59 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.78 |
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 LaCombe
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.
Rust 0G 2A, 11 SOG · LaCombe 1G 0A, 9 SOG
Rust blocked 3 of LaCombe's shots; LaCombe blocked 1 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
16:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–12
- 67.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.3
- 77.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | LaCombe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | PIT 3–4 ANA | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-14 | PIT 3–4 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-23 | PIT 1–5 ANA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-07 | PIT 2–0 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-30 | PIT 3–4 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 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)
Jackson LaCombe
2games
3.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGK1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to Dvs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Jackson LaCombe in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jackson LaCombe's 2.01. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; LaCombe had 58 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 Jackson LaCombe?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 18 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 LaCombe done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 1–4. Rust had 2 points (0 goals) and LaCombe had 1 (1 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 →