Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Scoring chances 53.7%, Expected goals 52.2%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Penalty minutes 44, Hits 60.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
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 | Karlsson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 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: Karlsson vs Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 1G 6A, 20 SOG · Crosby 1G 11A, 18 SOG
Karlsson blocked 1 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 6 of Karlsson's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
507:54 at 5-on-5 over 70 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 530–486
- 52.2%
- Expected goals
- 22.0–26.5
- 45.4%
- Goals
- 27–21
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-14 | SJS 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2023-01-28 | SJS 6–4 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-15 | SJS 1–2 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-02 | SJS 5–8 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-02-21 | SJS 4–0 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-01-15 | SJS 5–2 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-02-13 | OTT 3–6 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2017-11-16 | OTT 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 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.
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 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, Erik Karlsson or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson 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 Karlsson and Crosby done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 3–5. Karlsson had 7 points (1 goals) and Crosby had 12 (1 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 →