Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Crosby has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Crosby's 1.9.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Expected goals 59.7%, Sequence xG 59.5%, Scoring chances 59.3%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.034, Faceoff win % 55.2%.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads MacKinnon 89–50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.49 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.87 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.10 |
| 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 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.
MacKinnon 8G 15A, 54 SOG · Crosby 8G 7A, 48 SOG
MacKinnon's offensive zone 6–17 · neutral 31–48 · MacKinnon's defensive zone 13–24 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
7:53 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–11
- 42.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.4
- 58.0%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | COL 6–2 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2025-03-04 | COL 4–1 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-10 | COL 6–2 PIT | 1G 4A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-24 | COL 5–4 PIT | 1G 2A 6S | 1G 3A 5S |
| 2023-10-26 | COL 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-22 | COL 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-07 | COL 1–2 PIT | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-05 | COL 6–4 PIT | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-02 | COL 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-10-16 | COL 2–3 PIT | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2018-12-04 | COL 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-11-28 | COL 6–3 PIT | 1G 3A 2S | 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.
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.9 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 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, Nathan MacKinnon or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have MacKinnon and Crosby done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 9–5. MacKinnon had 23 points (8 goals) and Crosby had 15 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, MacKinnon or Crosby?
- Against each other, MacKinnon has won 50 and Crosby 89 of their 139 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 →