Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Samuelsson 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 Mattias Samuelsson's 2.01.
Samuelsson had 41 points in 78 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Samuelsson has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Samuelsson for 2.0 ESPN points to Crosby's 2.0.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Samuelsson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.07, Blocked shots 154, Hits 132.
Crosby's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.2%, Power-play share 70.9%, Power-play time per game 3:05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Samuelsson
2.01
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 | Samuelsson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.44 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.10 |
| 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 Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Samuelsson 1G 3A, 23 SOG · Crosby 7G 6A, 43 SOG
Samuelsson blocked 4 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 0 of Samuelsson's.
On the ice against each other (Samuelsson's side)
16:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Samuelsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–8
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.2
- 76.9%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Samuelsson | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | BUF 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-11-26 | BUF 2–4 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-27 | BUF 7–3 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-17 | BUF 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-16 | BUF 5–6 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | BUF 3–1 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-24 | BUF 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-11-11 | BUF 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-10 | BUF 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-09 | BUF 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-23 | BUF 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-05-08 | BUF 0–1 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 14 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 10th-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to D
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Samuelsson 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 Mattias Samuelsson's 2.01. Samuelsson had 41 points in 78 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, Mattias Samuelsson or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 21 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Samuelsson's team went 5–9. Samuelsson had 4 points (1 goals) and Crosby had 13 (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 →