Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikita Kucherov's 3.01.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 3.2 ESPN points to Kucherov's 3.0.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 681, Top skating speed 24.8, Hits 64.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.042, Shorthanded points 1, Penalty minutes 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.49 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.87 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: MacKinnon vs Kucherov
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.
MacKinnon 7G 16A, 90 SOG · Kucherov 10G 14A, 63 SOG
MacKinnon blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of MacKinnon's.
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
6:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–4
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 60.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | COL 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-11-04 | COL 3–2 TBL | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-25 | COL 2–8 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-10-30 | COL 2–5 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-15 | COL 3–6 TBL | 0G 2A 5S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-11-27 | COL 4–1 TBL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-02-14 | COL 3–4 TBL | 1G 1A 7S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-09 | COL 0–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-06-26 · PO | COL 2–1 TBL | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-06-24 · PO | COL 2–3 TBL | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-06-22 · PO | COL 3–2 TBL | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-06-20 · PO | COL 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 6S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
3.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL3.2 pts
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH3.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikita Kucherov's 3.01. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 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, Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon 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 MacKinnon and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 7–13. MacKinnon had 23 points (7 goals) and Kucherov had 24 (10 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 →