Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Lawson Crouse has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.5, Corsi 53.3%, Hits 212.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Power-play points 34, Offensive-zone time 44.5%, Power-play share 82.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crouse | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.22 |
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: Crouse vs Rantanen
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.
Crouse 7G 10A, 60 SOG · Rantanen 17G 25A, 104 SOG
Crouse blocked 2 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 0 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
11:43 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–12
- 58.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.6
- 59.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | UTA 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-01-15 | UTA 2–1 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-28 | UTA 3–4 DAL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-04-12 | UTA 5–3 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-12-27 | UTA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-12 | UTA 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-24 | UTA 1–5 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-02-18 | ARI 3–4 COL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-27 | ARI 5–4 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-23 | ARI 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-30 | ARI 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-03-26 | ARI 3–4 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 7S |
Latest 12 of 31 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.
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 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Lawson Crouse or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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, Lawson Crouse or Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lawson Crouse leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Crouse and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 12–19. Crouse had 17 points (7 goals) and Rantanen had 42 (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 →