Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.13, Plus/minus +16, Hits 106.
Crosby's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Goals above expected +6.6, Offensive-zone start % 66.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Eriksson Ek 83–46.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
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 | Eriksson Ek | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Eriksson Ek vs Crosby
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.
Eriksson Ek 3G 3A, 22 SOG · Crosby 6G 14A, 37 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 10–19 · neutral 15–28 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 21–36 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Eriksson Ek blocked 1 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 1 of Eriksson Ek's.
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
15:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–17
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.5
- 64.5%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-21 | MIN 5–0 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-30 | MIN 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-29 | MIN 5–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2024-02-09 | MIN 3–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-18 | MIN 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-04-06 | MIN 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-17 | MIN 4–6 PIT | 2G 0A 4S | 2G 2A 3S |
| 2022-03-31 | MIN 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2020-01-14 | MIN 3–7 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 3A 3S |
| 2019-10-12 | MIN 4–7 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2018-12-20 | MIN 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-01-25 | MIN 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 1S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
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 CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Crosby done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 4–9. Eriksson Ek had 6 points (3 goals) and Crosby had 20 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Crosby?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 46 and Crosby 83 of their 129 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 →