Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Pettersson's 2.34.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Kucherov's 2.5.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 642, Blocked shots 108, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.002.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Luck Meter +49, Corsi 56.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.04 |
| 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 Kucherov
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 5A, 29 SOG · Kucherov 10G 10A, 38 SOG
Pettersson blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
4:33 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–6
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 56.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | VAN 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2025-11-16 | VAN 6–2 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-08 | VAN 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-10-15 | VAN 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-12 | VAN 4–1 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-19 | VAN 3–4 TBL | 0G 2A 3S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2023-01-18 | VAN 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-12 | VAN 4–5 TBL | 1G 1A 8S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-01-13 | VAN 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2020-01-07 | VAN 2–9 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2018-12-18 | VAN 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2018-10-11 | VAN 4–1 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
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 CLikely 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)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Pettersson's 2.34. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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 Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 3–9. Pettersson had 8 points (3 goals) and Kucherov had 20 (10 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 →