Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Hertl's 2.0.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.8, Luck Meter +51, Plus/minus +20.
Hertl's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 47.7%, Ascension score 61, Power-play share 78.1%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crouse | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Crouse vs Hertl
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Crouse 10G 11A, 56 SOG · Hertl 14G 13A, 87 SOG
Crouse's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–1 · Crouse's defensive zone 0–1 (2020-21)
Crouse blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 0 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
15:02 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–16
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.9
- 49.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | UTA 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | UTA 4–2 VGK | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | UTA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-19 | UTA 4–0 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-24 | UTA 5–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-20 | UTA 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-11-30 | UTA 6–0 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-15 | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-02 | UTA 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 32 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 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Lawson Crouse or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 20 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 32 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 14–18. Crouse had 21 points (10 goals) and Hertl had 27 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crouse or Hertl?
- Against each other, Crouse has won 1 and Hertl 2 of their 3 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 →