Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Expected goals 54.4%, Sequence xG 54.3%, On-ice PDO 1046.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Faceoffs won 773, Fenwick 51.2%.
Head to head on the dot, Rantanen leads Crosby 9–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 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
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Rantanen vs Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rantanen 5G 11A, 49 SOG · Crosby 11G 7A, 46 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 9–4 · neutral 0–0 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–2 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
4:16 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–7
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.1
- 75.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-07 | DAL 3–2 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-05 | DAL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 3G 1A 5S |
| 2024-12-10 | COL 6–2 PIT | 3G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-24 | COL 5–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 3A 5S |
| 2023-10-26 | COL 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-22 | COL 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-07 | COL 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-05 | COL 6–4 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-02 | COL 3–2 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-10-16 | COL 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2018-12-04 | COL 3–6 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-11-28 | COL 6–3 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 3G 0A 7S |
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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 Mikko Rantanen or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rantanen and Crosby done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 8–6. Rantanen had 16 points (5 goals) and Crosby had 18 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Crosby?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 9 and Crosby 6 of their 15 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 →