Who to start · 2025-26
Leo Carlsson vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Leo Carlsson's 2.12.
Carlsson had 67 points in 70 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Carlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Carlsson's 1.6.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Carlsson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.29, Expected goals 55.4%, Sequence xG 55.3%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.063, Faceoff win % 55.2%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Carlsson 15–3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leo Carlsson
2.12
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carlsson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.90 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.10 |
| 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: Carlsson vs Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Carlsson 0G 2A, 6 SOG · Crosby 3G 4A, 24 SOG
Carlsson's offensive zone 0–5 · neutral 1–4 · Carlsson's defensive zone 2–6 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
Carlsson blocked 1 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 0 of Carlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Carlsson's side)
7:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Carlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–15
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.8
- 38.1%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlsson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | ANA 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-14 | ANA 4–3 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-01-23 | ANA 5–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-31 | ANA 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2023-11-07 | ANA 0–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-30 | ANA 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 11S |
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.
Leo Carlsson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leo Carlsson or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Leo Carlsson's 2.12. Carlsson had 67 points in 70 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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, Leo Carlsson or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Carlsson and Crosby done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Carlsson's team went 4–2. Carlsson had 2 points (0 goals) and Crosby had 7 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Carlsson or Crosby?
- Against each other, Carlsson has won 3 and Crosby 15 of their 18 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 →