Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Guentzel 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 Jake Guentzel's 2.21.
Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Guentzel has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Guentzel's 1.9.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.005, Shorthanded points 2, Ascension score 53.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Hardest shot 91.0, Top skating speed 24.8, 20+ mph bursts 455.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Guentzel
2.21
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 | Guentzel | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 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: Guentzel vs MacKinnon
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.
Guentzel 9G 7A, 40 SOG · MacKinnon 5G 10A, 54 SOG
Guentzel's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 1–0 · Guentzel's defensive zone 1–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Guentzel blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Guentzel's.
On the ice against each other (Guentzel's side)
6:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Guentzel's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–4
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 57.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Guentzel | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | TBL 4–2 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-11-04 | TBL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-25 | TBL 8–2 COL | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-30 | TBL 5–2 COL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-26 | PIT 4–0 COL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-22 | PIT 5–2 COL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-07 | PIT 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 10S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-04-05 | PIT 4–6 COL | 1G 1A 7S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-02 | PIT 2–3 COL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2019-10-16 | PIT 3–2 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2018-12-04 | PIT 6–3 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-11-28 | PIT 3–6 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 3A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Jake Guentzel
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.9 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake Guentzel 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 Jake Guentzel's 2.21. Guentzel had 88 points in 81 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, Jake Guentzel or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Guentzel and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Guentzel's team went 8–6. Guentzel had 16 points (9 goals) and MacKinnon had 15 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Guentzel or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Guentzel has won 2 and MacKinnon 3 of their 5 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 →