Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to MacKinnon's 2.2.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Hits 212, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038, Shorthanded points 2.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.6%, Power-play points 30, Power-play share 79.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crouse | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Crouse vs MacKinnon
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 6G 7A, 59 SOG · MacKinnon 14G 22A, 132 SOG
Crouse's offensive zone 0–4 · neutral 0–2 · Crouse's defensive zone 1–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Crouse blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 2 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
18:51 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–15
- 58.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 46.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | UTA 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-21 | UTA 4–3 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2025-10-09 | UTA 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-27 | UTA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | UTA 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-24 | UTA 1–5 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-18 | ARI 3–4 COL | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 9S |
| 2023-12-27 | ARI 5–4 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-23 | ARI 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-30 | ARI 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2023-03-26 | ARI 3–4 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-24 | ARI 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
Latest 12 of 29 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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Lawson Crouse or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 28 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 9–20. Crouse had 13 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 36 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crouse or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Crouse has won 1 and MacKinnon 8 of their 9 head-to-head draws.
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 →