Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Matvei Michkov vs Nikita Kucherov

Matvei MichkovFlyers · Right wing
vs
Nikita KucherovLightning · Right wing
RisingixG/60 1.66 (was 0.80)
Steady63% of team PP time (was 72%)

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matvei Michkov's 1.51.

Michkov had 51 points in 81 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 games.

This week Michkov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.4 to Michkov's 3.7 over the games left.

Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Michkov's biggest edges: Ascension score 67, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.034, Offensive-zone start % 74.2%.

Kucherov's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.1, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.08, Goals above expected +3.9.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +13.3 to -0.3 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Michkov is rising, ixG/60 1.66 (was 0.80); Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%).

  • • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 14 SOG.
  • • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 13 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 26 SOG.

Philadelphia Flyers · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Matvei Michkov

-0.3

category z-score total

Nikita Kucherov

+13.3

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Michkov wins 0, Kucherov wins 6 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryMichkovKucherov
Goals / game0.370.53
Assists / game0.261.08
Plus/minus / game-0.270.52
Power-play points / game0.200.47
Shots on goal / game1.702.98
Hits / game0.310.34

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: Michkov vs Kucherov

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MichkovKucherov
0Team record in 5 meetings5
0Points in those games13

Michkov 0G 0A, 8 SOG · Kucherov 4G 9A, 12 SOG

On the ice against each other (Michkov's side)

11:40 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Michkov's side

Shot attempts
13–14
48.1%
Expected goals
0.7–1.3
36.3%
Goals
0–3

Games against each other

Games between Matvei Michkov and Nikita Kucherov
DateScoreMichkovKucherov
2026-10-05PHI 1–4 TBL0G 0A 1S0G 2A 1S
2026-01-12PHI 1–5 TBL0G 0A 2S1G 1A 6S
2026-01-10PHI 2–7 TBL0G 0A 2S2G 2A 2S
2025-11-24PHI 0–3 TBL0G 0A 1S0G 3A 0S
2025-03-17PHI 0–2 TBL0G 0A 2S1G 1A 3S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MichkovKucherov

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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

Matvei Michkov

3games (2 left)

3.7proj. ESPN default pts

Nikita Kucherov

3games (2 left)

5.4proj. ESPN default pts

  • Tue, Oct 20 @ VGK
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.3 pts
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
  • Sat, Oct 24 @ UTAB2B3.1 pts
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −11.4 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Matvei Michkov or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matvei Michkov's 1.51. Michkov had 51 points in 81 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 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, Matvei Michkov or Nikita Kucherov?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Michkov and Kucherov done against each other?
In 5 games against each other in our data, Michkov's team went 0–5. Michkov had 0 points (0 goals) and Kucherov had 13 (4 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 →