Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak vs Darnell Nurse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Nurse had 24 in 82 games.
This week Dvorak has 1 game left; Nurse has 1 left. We project Nurse for 1.8 ESPN points to Dvorak's 1.5.
Christian Dvorak has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Plus/minus +11, On-ice PDO 1027, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.04.
Nurse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.8, Hits 137, Transition attempts /60 0.90.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
1.42
fantasy points per game
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Darnell Nurse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Dvorak | Nurse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.16 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.19 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 1.11 |
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: Dvorak vs Nurse
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.
Dvorak 5G 2A, 23 SOG · Nurse 3G 1A, 37 SOG
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
10:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–10
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 52.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Nurse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | PHI 5–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-12 | PHI 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-06 | MTL 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-12 | MTL 6–2 EDM | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-03 | MTL 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-04 | ARI 3–0 EDM | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-01-18 | ARI 3–7 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-11-24 | ARI 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-11-04 | ARI 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-03-16 | ARI 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-05 | ARI 3–4 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2018-02-17 | ARI 1–0 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Christian Dvorak
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLA
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Christian Dvorak or Darnell Nurse in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42. Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Nurse had 24 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, Christian Dvorak or Darnell Nurse?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Christian Dvorak leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dvorak and Nurse done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 5–9. Dvorak had 7 points (5 goals) and Nurse had 4 (3 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 →