Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Rasmus Sandin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Sandin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Sandin's 1.7.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 30 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.6%, Transition attempts /60 1.83, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Sandin's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.09, Hits 88, Blocked shots 127.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.17
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Sandin
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Sandin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.32 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.44 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.87 |
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 Sandin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
MacKinnon 7G 6A, 44 SOG · Sandin 1G 0A, 7 SOG
MacKinnon blocked 1 of Sandin's shots; Sandin blocked 2 of MacKinnon's.
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
13:15 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–14
- 58.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.6
- 68.0%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Sandin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | COL 3–2 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-19 | COL 5–2 WSH | 2G 1A 10S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-21 | COL 2–1 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-15 | COL 2–5 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-13 | COL 6–3 WSH | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-24 | COL 6–2 WSH | 4G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-08 | COL 5–4 TOR | 1G 0A 12S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-01 | COL 3–8 TOR | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Rasmus Sandin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Rasmus Sandin 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 Sandin's 1.59. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 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 Sandin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 30 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have MacKinnon and Sandin done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 6–2. MacKinnon had 13 points (7 goals) and Sandin had 1 (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 →