Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.2 ESPN points to Batherson's 2.0.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Expected goals 56.5%, Sequence xG 56.7%, Scoring chances 56.3%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 773, On-ice PDO 1016, Top skating speed 22.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.23
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.85 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.66 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Batherson vs Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Batherson 9G 7A, 35 SOG · Crosby 3G 6A, 37 SOG
Batherson's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 1–0 · Batherson's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
5:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–4
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.7–0.0
- 97.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | OTT 3–4 PIT | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-02 | OTT 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-18 | OTT 4–0 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-30 | OTT 0–1 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-11 | OTT 5–0 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-14 | OTT 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-12 | OTT 2–1 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-23 | OTT 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-28 | OTT 5–2 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-20 | OTT 2–1 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-20 | OTT 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-01-18 | OTT 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 3A 0S |
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.
Drake Batherson
1games
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR2.0 pts
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01. Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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, Drake Batherson or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Batherson and Crosby done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 10–4. Batherson had 16 points (9 goals) and Crosby had 9 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Batherson or Crosby?
- Against each other, Batherson has won 1 and Crosby 2 of their 3 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 →