Who to start · 2025-26
Marc Gatcomb vs Nikita Nesterenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Marc Gatcomb projects to 0.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikita Nesterenko's 0.90.
Gatcomb had 7 points in 49 games; Nesterenko had 9 in 29 games.
This week Gatcomb has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Nesterenko has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Nesterenko for 2.2 to Gatcomb's 2.1 over the games left.
Marc Gatcomb has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Gatcomb's biggest edges: High-danger chances 55.0%, Hits 192, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019.
Nesterenko's biggest edges: Expected goals 54.9%, Sequence xG 54.5%, Faceoffs won 11.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Nesterenko rates ahead, -1.0 to -1.2 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Gatcomb is steady, On-ice xGF/60 1.25 (was 2.32); Nesterenko is rising, ixG/60 1.98 (was 0.44).
- • Gatcomb, 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 20 SOG.
- • Gatcomb, last 10 games (Oct 2–Oct 20): 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 17 SOG.
- • Nesterenko has played 8 of the Ducks' 9 games since Oct 2 (in and out of the lineup).
- • Nesterenko, 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
Vegas Golden Knights · Anaheim Ducks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Marc Gatcomb
-1.2
category z-score total
Nikita Nesterenko
-1.0
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Nesterenko has the edge (Gatcomb wins 2, Nesterenko wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Gatcomb | Nesterenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Assists / game | 0.09 | 0.22 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.15 | 0.04 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.42 | 1.18 |
| Hits / game | 3.68 | 2.28 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Gatcomb vs Nesterenko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2026-27 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Gatcomb 0G 0A, 1 SOG · Nesterenko 0G 0A, 0 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Gatcomb | Nesterenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | VGK 3–4 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Marc Gatcomb
3games (2 left)
2.1proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs TBLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ STL1.0 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ CBJ1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
Nikita Nesterenko
4games (2 left)
2.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ NYROpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ NYIB2B
- Thu, Oct 22 @ NJD1.1 ptsOpp allows 16th-fewest FP to Cvs Nico Daws (.908)
- Sat, Oct 24 @ PHI1.1 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Marc Gatcomb or Nikita Nesterenko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Marc Gatcomb projects to 0.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikita Nesterenko's 0.90. Gatcomb had 7 points in 49 games; Nesterenko had 9 in 29 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, Marc Gatcomb or Nikita Nesterenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Marc Gatcomb leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Gatcomb and Nesterenko done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Gatcomb's team went 0–1. Gatcomb had 0 points (0 goals) and Nesterenko had 0 (0 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 →