Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tage Thompson's 2.26.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.5, Shorthanded points 2, Plus/minus 0.
Thompson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 390, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.008, Transition attempts /60 1.17.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.38
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.99 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.30 |
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 Thompson
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 8A, 51 SOG · Thompson 10G 7A, 63 SOG
Rust's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Rust's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
Rust blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
16:15 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–8
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.5
- 38.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | PIT 1–5 BUF | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-02-05 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-11-26 | PIT 4–2 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-27 | PIT 3–7 BUF | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-17 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-10-16 | PIT 6–5 BUF | 1G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | PIT 1–3 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-11 | PIT 4–0 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-10 | PIT 3–1 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-12-09 | PIT 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-02 | PIT 3–6 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-23 | PIT 3–4 BUF | 0G 2A 4S | 2G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Tage Thompson 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 Tage Thompson's 2.26. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 12–9. Rust had 14 points (6 goals) and Thompson had 17 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rust or Thompson?
- Against each other, Rust has won 0 and Thompson 1 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →