Who to start · 2025-26
Jeff Skinner 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 Jeff Skinner's 1.06.
Skinner had 13 points in 32 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Skinner has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Skinner's 1.3.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 30 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Skinner's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.006, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.22, Faceoffs won 3.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Fenwick 55.9%, Corsi 56.2%, Sequence xG 57.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jeff Skinner
1.06
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Skinner | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.19 |
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: Skinner vs Kucherov
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.
Skinner 5G 6A, 56 SOG · Kucherov 12G 20A, 65 SOG
On the ice against each other (Skinner's side)
1:53 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Skinner's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–1
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 31.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Skinner | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | SJS 3–7 TBL | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 4A 2S |
| 2024-12-10 | EDM 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-15 | BUF 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-02-29 | BUF 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-10-17 | BUF 3–2 TBL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-23 | BUF 6–5 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-03-04 | BUF 5–3 TBL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-28 | BUF 5–6 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2022-11-05 | BUF 3–5 TBL | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 3A 6S |
| 2022-04-10 | BUF 0–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-11 | BUF 1–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 3G 0A 7S |
| 2019-11-25 | BUF 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Jeff Skinner
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.3 ptsOpp allows the most FP to LWSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jeff Skinner 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 Jeff Skinner's 1.06. Skinner had 13 points in 32 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, Jeff Skinner or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 30 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Skinner and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Skinner's team went 8–13. Skinner had 11 points (5 goals) and Kucherov had 32 (12 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 →