Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Vilardi has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Vilardi's 1.3.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.014, Sequence xG 50.8%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Faceoff win % 55.2%, Draw Equity /100 +0.063.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
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 | Vilardi | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Vilardi vs Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vilardi 2G 2A, 9 SOG · Crosby 1G 3A, 17 SOG
Vilardi's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 1–2 · Vilardi's defensive zone 1–1 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
10:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–4
- 81.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 76.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | WPG 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-01 | WPG 5–2 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-22 | WPG 4–1 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-20 | WPG 6–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-10 | WPG 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-06 | WPG 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-20 | LAK 1–6 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2020-02-26 | LAK 2–1 PIT | 0G 1A 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.
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76. Vilardi had 69 points in 82 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, Gabriel Vilardi or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vilardi and Crosby done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 5–3. Vilardi had 4 points (2 goals) and Crosby had 4 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Vilardi or Crosby?
- Against each other, Vilardi has won 4 and Crosby 5 of their 9 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 →