Who to start · 2025-26
Kirill Marchenko 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 Kirill Marchenko's 1.92.
Marchenko had 67 points in 76 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Marchenko has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Marchenko's 1.8.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Marchenko's biggest edges: Ascension score 58, Top skating speed 23.4, Hits 61.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, High-danger chances 56.9%, Sequence xG 57.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kirill Marchenko
1.92
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 | Marchenko | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.63 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| 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: Marchenko vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Marchenko 6G 7A, 32 SOG · Kucherov 4G 20A, 38 SOG
Marchenko blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Marchenko's.
On the ice against each other (Marchenko's side)
11:05 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Marchenko's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–14
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.6
- 10.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchenko | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | CBJ 5–2 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-24 | CBJ 8–5 TBL | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 3A 3S |
| 2025-03-04 | CBJ 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2024-12-17 | CBJ 3–5 TBL | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-21 | CBJ 7–6 TBL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 3A 6S |
| 2024-04-09 | CBJ 2–5 TBL | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2024-02-10 | CBJ 2–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-11-02 | CBJ 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-10 | CBJ 3–6 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 4S |
| 2022-12-15 | CBJ 1–4 TBL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 4S |
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 Marchenko
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
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 Kirill Marchenko 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 Kirill Marchenko's 1.92. Marchenko had 67 points in 76 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, Kirill Marchenko or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchenko and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Marchenko's team went 4–6. Marchenko had 13 points (6 goals) and Kucherov had 24 (4 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 →