Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Leo Carlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leo Carlsson projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Carlsson had 67 in 70 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Carlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Carlsson's 1.6.
Leo Carlsson has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Hits 137, Transition attempts /60 0.90, Blocked shots 167.
Carlsson's biggest edges: Ascension score 59, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.29, Plus/minus +4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Leo Carlsson
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leo Carlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Carlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 0.23 |
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: Nurse vs Carlsson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nurse 1G 2A, 33 SOG · Carlsson 5G 11A, 42 SOG
Nurse blocked 3 of Carlsson's shots; Carlsson blocked 1 of Nurse's.
On the ice against each other (Nurse's side)
50:20 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Nurse's side
- Shot attempts
- 42–56
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–2.0
- 47.5%
- Goals
- 4–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nurse | Carlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-30 · PO | EDM 2–5 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | EDM 4–1 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | EDM 3–4 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | EDM 4–7 ANA | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | EDM 4–6 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | EDM 4–3 ANA | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 10S |
| 2026-03-28 | EDM 4–2 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-25 | EDM 5–6 ANA | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-04-07 | EDM 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-04 | EDM 2–6 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-03 | EDM 3–2 ANA | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-29 | EDM 3–5 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Leo Carlsson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Leo Carlsson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leo Carlsson projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83. Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Carlsson had 67 in 70 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, Darnell Nurse or Leo Carlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leo Carlsson leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nurse and Carlsson done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Nurse's team went 6–8. Nurse had 3 points (1 goals) and Carlsson had 16 (5 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 →