Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nico Hischier's 1.93.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Hischier's 1.9.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 18 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.070, Faceoff win % 55.8%, High-danger chances 55.2%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Luck Meter +13, On-ice PDO 1014, Offensive-zone start % 60.8%.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Thompson 48–25.
- • 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
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 0.28 |
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 Thompson
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 5G 7A, 46 SOG · Thompson 10G 6A, 54 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 11–8 · neutral 19–12 · Hischier's defensive zone 18–5 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Hischier's.
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
18:00 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–18
- 51.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.5
- 72.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | NJD 1–2 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-21 | NJD 1–3 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-28 | NJD 5–0 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-05 | NJD 3–1 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-04 | NJD 4–1 BUF | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-29 | NJD 2–5 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 4G 0A 6S |
| 2023-10-27 | NJD 5–4 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-11 | NJD 6–2 BUF | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-24 | NJD 4–5 BUF | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-25 | NJD 3–1 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-21 | NJD 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2021-12-29 | NJD 4–3 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nico Hischier's 1.93. Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Thompson had 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 11–7. Hischier had 12 points (5 goals) and Thompson had 16 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Thompson?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 48 and Thompson 25 of their 73 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 →