Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, Top skating speed 22.8, Shorthanded points 2.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Expected goals 57.2%, Sequence xG 57.2%, Transition attempts /60 1.45.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.19 |
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 Kucherov
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 6G 7A, 63 SOG · Kucherov 11G 24A, 80 SOG
Rust blocked 3 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
6:25 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–14
- 12.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.6
- 15.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | PIT 3–6 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2026-01-13 | PIT 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-04 | PIT 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 10S |
| 2025-03-25 | PIT 1–6 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-12 | PIT 2–5 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-19 | PIT 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-06 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2023-12-06 | PIT 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-30 | PIT 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 8S |
| 2023-03-02 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-26 | PIT 7–3 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-15 | PIT 6–2 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 4S |
Latest 12 of 22 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)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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 Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 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 Kucherov done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 10–12. Rust had 13 points (6 goals) and Kucherov had 35 (11 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 →