Who to start · 2025-26
Kirill Kaprizov vs Lawson Crouse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Kaprizov had 89 points in 78 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 games.
This week Kaprizov has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crouse has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Kaprizov's 1.9.
Lawson Crouse has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kaprizov's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.9%, Power-play points 32, Power-play share 77.0%.
Crouse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.8, Luck Meter +51, Hits 212.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kirill Kaprizov
2.50
fantasy points per game
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kirill Kaprizov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kaprizov | Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.21 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.34 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.28 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.30 |
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: Kaprizov vs Crouse
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kaprizov 15G 14A, 85 SOG · Crouse 6G 2A, 39 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kaprizov's side)
11:58 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kaprizov's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–21
- 32.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.9
- 38.3%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kaprizov | Crouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | MIN 5–0 UTA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-27 | MIN 2–5 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-25 | MIN 2–6 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-23 | MIN 0–4 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-20 | MIN 1–2 UTA | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-10 | MIN 5–4 UTA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-12 | MIN 4–1 ARI | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-07 | MIN 5–2 ARI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-14 | MIN 3–1 ARI | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-13 | MIN 0–6 ARI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-06 | MIN 2–3 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-14 | MIN 2–1 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
Kirill Kaprizov
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Kirill Kaprizov or Lawson Crouse in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Kaprizov had 89 points in 78 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 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, Kirill Kaprizov or Lawson Crouse?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lawson Crouse leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kaprizov and Crouse done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Kaprizov's team went 16–7. Kaprizov had 29 points (15 goals) and Crouse had 8 (6 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 →