Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Rasmus Sandin
In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Sandin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Sandin's 1.7.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 26 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Offensive-zone start % 63.3%.
Sandin's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 88, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.09.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Sandin
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Sandin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.87 |
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 Sandin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rust 5G 6A, 37 SOG · Sandin 2G 2A, 12 SOG
Rust blocked 0 of Sandin's shots; Sandin blocked 1 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
1:39 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Sandin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | PIT 5–3 WSH | 1G 2A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-17 | PIT 5–2 WSH | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-18 | PIT 1–4 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-08 | PIT 4–2 WSH | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-04 | PIT 4–1 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-02 | PIT 3–4 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-10-13 | PIT 4–0 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-25 | PIT 4–3 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-26 | PIT 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-15 | PIT 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-11 | PIT 4–2 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-17 | PIT 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
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 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Rasmus Sandin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Rasmus Sandin in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 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 Rasmus Sandin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 26 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 Sandin done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 9–6. Rust had 11 points (5 goals) and Sandin had 4 (2 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 →