Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 31 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Blocked shots 59, Transition attempts /60 1.40, Draw Equity /100 +0.081.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Top skating speed 22.9, 20+ mph bursts 138.
Head to head on the dot, Lindholm leads Crosby 64–50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 0.21 |
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: Lindholm vs Crosby
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.
Lindholm 1G 5A, 31 SOG · Crosby 3G 11A, 33 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 18–13 · neutral 19–15 · Lindholm's defensive zone 27–22 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
4:24 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–7
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 34.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-11 | BOS 1–0 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-13 | BOS 4–1 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | BOS 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-29 | BOS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-27 | VAN 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2023-10-14 | CGY 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-23 | CGY 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-25 | CGY 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-11-29 | CGY 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-02-16 | CGY 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2018-10-25 | CGY 1–9 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2018-02-23 | CAR 1–6 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 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, Elias Lindholm or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 31 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Crosby done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 8–7. Lindholm had 6 points (1 goals) and Crosby had 14 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Crosby?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 64 and Crosby 50 of their 114 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 →