Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier 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 Nico Hischier's 1.93.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.2 ESPN points to Hischier's 2.0.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 18 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.28, Blocked shots 62, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.007.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Luck Meter +61, Offensive-zone start % 66.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Hischier 119–118.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 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
Nico Hischier
1.93
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 | Hischier | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 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: Hischier 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.
Hischier 9G 14A, 67 SOG · Crosby 10G 15A, 81 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 25–26 · neutral 47–51 · Hischier's defensive zone 46–42 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 3 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 1 of Hischier's.
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
23:17 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–23
- 53.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.5
- 60.1%
- Goals
- 0–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | NJD 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2026-01-08 | NJD 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | NJD 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-11 | NJD 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-15 | NJD 3–7 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-21 | NJD 3–0 PIT | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-02 | NJD 3–6 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-19 | NJD 5–2 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-04-04 | NJD 5–1 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-18 | NJD 5–2 PIT | 2G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-22 | NJD 2–1 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-30 | NJD 4–2 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 26 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 PHISchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.0 pts
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier 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 Nico Hischier's 1.93. Hischier had 66 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, Nico Hischier or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier 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 Hischier and Crosby done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 14–12. Hischier had 23 points (9 goals) and Crosby had 25 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Crosby?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 118 and Crosby 119 of their 237 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 →