Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Samuelsson vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Samuelsson's 2.01.
Samuelsson had 41 points in 78 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Samuelsson has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Samuelsson's 2.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Samuelsson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 132, Blocked shots 154.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Power-play share 84.4%, Offensive-zone time 45.7%, Power-play time per game 4:04.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Samuelsson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Samuelsson | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.44 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.93 | 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: Samuelsson vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Samuelsson 2G 2A, 18 SOG · Kucherov 7G 13A, 42 SOG
Samuelsson blocked 5 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Samuelsson's.
On the ice against each other (Samuelsson's side)
31:16 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Samuelsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–49
- 35.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–2.3
- 39.4%
- Goals
- 3–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Samuelsson | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-06 | BUF 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-08 | BUF 8–7 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2026-02-28 | BUF 6–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-02-03 | BUF 3–4 TBL | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2025-04-13 | BUF 4–7 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-05 | BUF 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-06 | BUF 5–6 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-01-20 | BUF 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-17 | BUF 3–2 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-23 | BUF 6–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-03-04 | BUF 5–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-28 | BUF 5–6 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Mattias Samuelsson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Samuelsson or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Samuelsson's 2.01. Samuelsson had 41 points in 78 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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, Mattias Samuelsson or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Samuelsson and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Samuelsson's team went 7–6. Samuelsson had 4 points (2 goals) and Kucherov had 20 (7 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 →