Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Mark Stone
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mark Stone projects to 2.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Stone had 73 in 60 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Stone has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Stone's 2.2.
Mark Stone has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 124, Penalty minutes 26, Shots on goal 183.
Stone's biggest edges: Expected goals 61.7%, Sequence xG 61.7%, Transition attempts /60 1.49.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Mark Stone
2.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mark Stone has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Stone |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.75 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.39 |
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 Stone
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 5A, 44 SOG · Stone 4G 12A, 23 SOG
Rust blocked 1 of Stone's shots; Stone blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
6:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–8
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 11.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | PIT 2–6 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-01 | PIT 5–0 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-11 | PIT 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-07 | PIT 0–4 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2024-01-20 | PIT 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-11-19 | PIT 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-05 | PIT 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-01 | PIT 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-01-17 | PIT 5–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-01-07 | PIT 4–3 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-02-01 | PIT 5–3 OTT | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2018-12-08 | PIT 1–2 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
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)
Mark Stone
3games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Mark Stone in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mark Stone projects to 2.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Stone had 73 in 60 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 Mark Stone?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mark Stone leads in 19 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 Stone done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 9–6. Rust had 8 points (3 goals) and Stone had 16 (4 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 →