Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Crosby has 1 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Crosby's 2.0.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 18 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Expected goals 55.8%, Sequence xG 55.9%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 55.2%, Draw Equity /100 +0.063, Ascension score 57.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Schmaltz 10–3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Schmaltz 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.
Schmaltz 4G 8A, 25 SOG · Crosby 6G 9A, 37 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 1–5 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 1–3 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
5:25 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–3
- 76.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.0
- 86.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-14 | UTA 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-29 | UTA 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | UTA 6–1 PIT | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2023-12-12 | ARI 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-01-08 | ARI 1–4 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-10-13 | ARI 2–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2022-03-19 | ARI 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2022-01-25 | ARI 3–6 PIT | 2G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2017-11-18 | CHI 2–1 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2017-10-05 | CHI 10–1 PIT | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
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.
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 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, Nick Schmaltz or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 18 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Schmaltz and Crosby done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 4–6. Schmaltz had 12 points (4 goals) and Crosby had 15 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Crosby?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 3 and Crosby 10 of their 13 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 →