Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; O'Reilly has 1 left. We project Hischier for 2.0 ESPN points to O'Reilly's 2.0.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Hits 58, Top skating speed 22.8, Transition attempts /60 1.30.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Luck Meter +52, Goals above expected +1.2, On-ice PDO 1023.
Head to head on the dot, O'Reilly leads Hischier 76–55.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 0.38 |
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: Hischier vs O'Reilly
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.
Hischier 10G 9A, 51 SOG · O'Reilly 2G 8A, 29 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 28–26 · neutral 14–26 · Hischier's defensive zone 13–24 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 0 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 1 of Hischier's.
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
10:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–9
- 52.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 58.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | NJD 4–2 NSH | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-29 | NJD 3–2 NSH | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-23 | NJD 5–0 NSH | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-25 | NJD 5–2 NSH | 3G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-07 | NJD 2–3 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-02-13 | NJD 4–2 NSH | 2G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-16 | NJD 2–4 STL | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-06 | NJD 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-10 | NJD 7–4 STL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-03-06 | NJD 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-18 | NJD 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-03-30 | NJD 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.0 pts
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier or Ryan O'Reilly in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90. Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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, Nico Hischier or Ryan O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hischier and O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 10–6. Hischier had 19 points (10 goals) and O'Reilly had 10 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or O'Reilly?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 55 and O'Reilly 76 of their 131 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 →