Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Pettersson's 2.34.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; MacKinnon has 1 left. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to MacKinnon's 2.8.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.002, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60, Ascension score 57.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Plus/minus +57, Luck Meter +48, Scoring chances 59.3%.
Head to head on the dot, Pettersson leads MacKinnon 28–26.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 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: Pettersson vs MacKinnon
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.
Pettersson 3G 11A, 44 SOG · MacKinnon 11G 14A, 97 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 5–3 · neutral 14–13 · Pettersson's defensive zone 9–10 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
22:36 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–24
- 44.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–1.1
- 41.5%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-01 | VAN 8–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-12-02 | VAN 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2025-11-09 | VAN 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 3A 4S |
| 2025-02-04 | VAN 3–0 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-16 | VAN 3–1 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-13 | VAN 3–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | VAN 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 10S |
| 2023-11-22 | VAN 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2023-01-20 | VAN 1–4 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 10S |
| 2023-01-05 | VAN 4–2 COL | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-23 | VAN 4–3 COL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2022-03-23 | VAN 3–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 17 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 Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Pettersson's 2.34. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Pettersson or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 9–8. Pettersson had 14 points (3 goals) and MacKinnon had 25 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 28 and MacKinnon 26 of their 54 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 →