Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Owen Tippett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Owen Tippett's 1.73.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Tippett had 51 in 81 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Tippett has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Tippett's 1.7.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Plus/minus +43.
Tippett's biggest edges: Hits 166, Top skating speed 24.0, Blocked shots 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Owen Tippett
1.73
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Tippett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.24 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.30 |
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: Kucherov vs Tippett
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.
Kucherov 11G 19A, 45 SOG · Tippett 3G 4A, 39 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Tippett's shots; Tippett blocked 2 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
14:00 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–10
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 72.5%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Tippett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-12 | TBL 5–1 PHI | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-10 | TBL 7–2 PHI | 2G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-24 | TBL 3–0 PHI | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-17 | TBL 2–0 PHI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-07 | TBL 1–2 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-09 | TBL 7–0 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-27 | TBL 2–6 PHI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-07 | TBL 5–2 PHI | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 9S |
| 2022-12-01 | TBL 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-05-26 · PO | TBL 4–0 FLA | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-24 · PO | TBL 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-05-22 · PO | TBL 6–2 FLA | 1G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Owen Tippett
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Owen Tippett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Owen Tippett's 1.73. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Tippett had 51 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, Nikita Kucherov or Owen Tippett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kucherov and Tippett done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 12–4. Kucherov had 30 points (11 goals) and Tippett had 7 (3 goals).
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 →