Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rantanen has 1 left. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.8, Transition attempts /60 0.90, Hits 137.
Rantanen's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Offensive-zone time 44.5%, Ascension score 54.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 0.22 |
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 Rantanen
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.
Nurse 1G 10A, 52 SOG · Rantanen 13G 15A, 82 SOG
Nurse blocked 3 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 2 of Nurse's.
On the ice against each other (Nurse's side)
8:38 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Nurse's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–17
- 41.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.5
- 28.7%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nurse | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-04 | EDM 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-05-29 · PO | EDM 6–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-05-27 · PO | EDM 4–1 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-25 · PO | EDM 6–1 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-05-23 · PO | EDM 3–0 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-21 · PO | EDM 3–6 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-26 | EDM 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-08 | EDM 5–4 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-16 | EDM 4–3 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-30 | EDM 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-18 | EDM 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 27 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 13th-most 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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83. Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 20 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 Rantanen done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Nurse's team went 12–15. Nurse had 11 points (1 goals) and Rantanen had 28 (13 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 →