Who to start · 2025-26
J.T. Miller 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 J.T. Miller's 1.63.
Miller had 53 points in 68 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Miller has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Miller's 1.5.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Miller's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 547, Hits 123, Forecheck xG /60 0.40.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Luck Meter +54, Goals above expected +3.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
J.T. Miller
1.63
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Miller | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.44 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.26 | 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: Miller vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Miller 6G 10A, 41 SOG · Kucherov 8G 10A, 42 SOG
Miller blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Miller's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Miller's side)
20:29 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Miller's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–34
- 29.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.5
- 29.9%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Miller | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-15 | NYR 4–2 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-29 | NYR 1–4 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2025-11-12 | NYR 7–3 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | NYR 4–0 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-07 | NYR 1–5 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-10-15 | VAN 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-12 | VAN 4–1 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-19 | VAN 3–4 TBL | 1G 1A 4S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2023-01-18 | VAN 2–5 TBL | 0G 2A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-12 | VAN 4–5 TBL | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-13 | VAN 1–2 TBL | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
J.T. Miller
4games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
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 J.T. Miller 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 J.T. Miller's 1.63. Miller had 53 points in 68 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, J.T. Miller or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Miller and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Miller's team went 6–9. Miller had 16 points (6 goals) and Kucherov had 18 (8 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 →