Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Guentzel vs Nico Hischier
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nico Hischier's 1.93.
Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; Hischier had 66 in 82 games.
This week Guentzel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hischier has 1 left. We project Hischier for 1.9 ESPN points to Guentzel's 1.5.
Jake Guentzel has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Luck Meter +40, Goals above expected +1.6, On-ice PDO 1023.
Hischier's biggest edges: Hardest shot 89.4, Draw Equity /100 +0.070, Faceoff win % 55.8%.
Head to head on the dot, Guentzel leads Hischier 5–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Guentzel
2.21
fantasy points per game
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Guentzel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Guentzel | Hischier |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.39 |
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 Hischier
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 7G 16A, 61 SOG · Hischier 9G 11A, 68 SOG
Guentzel's offensive zone 5–2 · neutral 0–0 · Guentzel's defensive zone 0–3 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Guentzel blocked 1 of Hischier's shots; Hischier blocked 1 of Guentzel's.
On the ice against each other (Guentzel's side)
8:31 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Guentzel's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–16
- 30.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.7
- 24.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Guentzel | Hischier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-11 | TBL 8–4 NJD | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-18 | TBL 5–1 NJD | 3G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-11 | TBL 3–5 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-11 | TBL 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-16 | TBL 4–0 NJD | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-22 | TBL 8–5 NJD | 1G 1A 9S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-04 | PIT 1–5 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-02-18 | PIT 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2023-01-22 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-12-30 | PIT 2–4 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-13 | PIT 4–2 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-02-24 | PIT 1–6 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to Cvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake Guentzel or Nico Hischier in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nico Hischier's 1.93. Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; Hischier had 66 in 82 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 Nico Hischier?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Guentzel leads in 20 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 Hischier done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Guentzel's team went 11–14. Guentzel had 23 points (7 goals) and Hischier had 20 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Guentzel or Hischier?
- Against each other, Guentzel has won 5 and Hischier 5 of their 10 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 →