Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Rasmus Dahlin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Dahlin's 2.10.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Dahlin had 74 in 77 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Dahlin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Dahlin's 2.5.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 71.8%, Transition attempts /60 1.83, Top skating speed 24.8.
Dahlin's biggest edges: Ascension score 55, Penalty minutes 76, Forecheck xG /60 0.38.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Dahlin
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.49 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.87 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.48 |
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 Dahlin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
MacKinnon 10G 12A, 45 SOG · Dahlin 1G 6A, 21 SOG
MacKinnon blocked 0 of Dahlin's shots; Dahlin blocked 3 of MacKinnon's.
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
4:35 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–1
- 88.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 65.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-13 | COL 3–1 BUF | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-02 | COL 6–5 BUF | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-03 | COL 5–4 BUF | 2G 1A 9S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-13 | COL 5–1 BUF | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-10-29 | COL 0–4 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-01 | COL 6–4 BUF | 2G 3A 8S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-02-19 | COL 5–3 BUF | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-02-26 | COL 3–2 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-03-09 | COL 3–0 BUF | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-10-11 | COL 6–1 BUF | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
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)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Rasmus Dahlin
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Rasmus Dahlin 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 Rasmus Dahlin's 2.10. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Dahlin had 74 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 Rasmus Dahlin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 24 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 Dahlin done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 9–1. MacKinnon had 22 points (10 goals) and Dahlin had 7 (1 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 →