Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left. We project Thompson for 2.4 ESPN points to Rantanen's 2.3.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 93, On-ice PDO 1046, Plus/minus 0.
Thompson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, Corsi 50.3%, Hardest shot 97.9.
Head to head on the dot, Rantanen leads Thompson 7–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.28 |
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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Rantanen vs Thompson
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 8G 12A, 42 SOG · Thompson 9G 8A, 39 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 6–4 · neutral 1–3 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
7:37 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–13
- 35.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.0
- 36.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | DAL 1–4 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2025-02-27 | CAR 5–2 BUF | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-02 | COL 6–5 BUF | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2024-12-03 | COL 5–4 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-13 | COL 5–1 BUF | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-29 | COL 0–4 BUF | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-15 | COL 2–4 BUF | 1G 0A 8S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-01 | COL 6–4 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2022-02-19 | COL 5–3 BUF | 1G 1A 4S | 3G 0A 3S |
| 2018-10-11 | COL 6–1 BUF | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-03-15 | COL 4–1 STL | 2G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-02-08 | COL 1–6 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.3 pts
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJ
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mikko Rantanen or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 17 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 8–5. Rantanen had 20 points (8 goals) and Thompson had 17 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Thompson?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 7 and Thompson 7 of their 14 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 →