Who to start · 2025-26
John Carlson 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 John Carlson's 2.10.
Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Carlson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Carlson's 1.6.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Carlson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.96, Expected goals 54.2%, Sequence xG 53.8%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.034, Hits 60, Penalty minutes 44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Carlson
2.10
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 | Carlson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.37 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.61 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.76 | 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: Carlson 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.
Carlson 5G 19A, 97 SOG · Crosby 17G 24A, 112 SOG
Carlson blocked 5 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 2 of Carlson's.
On the ice against each other (Carlson's side)
4:12 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Carlson's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–3
- 70.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.2
- 80.3%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | WSH 3–5 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2025-02-22 | WSH 8–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-18 | WSH 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-08 | WSH 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-04 | WSH 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-07 | WSH 6–0 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2024-01-02 | WSH 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-13 | WSH 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-25 | WSH 3–4 PIT | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-04-09 | WSH 6–3 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-02-01 | WSH 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2021-12-10 | WSH 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 36 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.
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 John Carlson 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 John Carlson's 2.10. Carlson had 60 points in 71 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, John Carlson or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Carlson and Crosby done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Carlson's team went 18–18. Carlson had 24 points (5 goals) and Crosby had 41 (17 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 →