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Who to start · 2025-26

Nikita Kucherov vs Sam Reinhart

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Reinhart's 2.13.

Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Reinhart had 61 in 64 games.

This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Reinhart has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Reinhart's 2.5.

Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Goals above expected +3.9, Penalty minutes 50.

Reinhart's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 56, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Blocked shots 40.

  • • 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, 4 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Nikita Kucherov

3.01

fantasy points per game

Sam Reinhart

2.13

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKucherovReinhart
Goals (+2)1.200.80
Assists (+1)1.050.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.230.17
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.03
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.290.25
Hits (+0.1)0.040.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.31

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 Reinhart

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.

KucherovReinhart
23Team record in 40 meetings17
51Points in those games34

Kucherov 16G 35A, 129 SOG · Reinhart 25G 9A, 130 SOG

4Hits on each other6
1Shots blocked by the other4

Kucherov blocked 1 of Reinhart's shots; Reinhart blocked 4 of Kucherov's.

1Penalties drawn off the other2

On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)

15:11 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side

Shot attempts
13–10
56.5%
Expected goals
0.6–0.4
57.1%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Nikita Kucherov and Sam Reinhart
DateScoreKucherovReinhart
2026-02-05TBL 6–1 FLA0G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-12-27TBL 4–2 FLA2G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S
2025-12-15TBL 2–5 FLA0G 0A 3S2G 0A 6S
2025-11-15TBL 3–1 FLA0G 1A 6S0G 1A 1S
2025-04-30 · POTBL 3–6 FLA0G 0A 2S1G 1A 7S
2025-04-28 · POTBL 2–4 FLA0G 0A 1S0G 1A 3S
2025-04-26 · POTBL 5–1 FLA0G 3A 1S0G 0A 2S
2025-04-24 · POTBL 0–2 FLA0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2025-04-22 · POTBL 2–6 FLA0G 1A 2S1G 1A 3S
2025-03-03TBL 1–2 FLA0G 0A 5S0G 0A 4S
2024-12-23TBL 4–0 FLA1G 0A 5S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-22TBL 2–4 FLA0G 0A 2S2G 0A 2S

Latest 12 of 40 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.

KucherovReinhart

Fantasy box score

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)

2.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 pts
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

Sam Reinhart

3games (1 left)

2.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
    Opp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.5 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

FAQ

Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Sam Reinhart 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 Sam Reinhart's 2.13. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Reinhart had 61 in 64 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 Sam Reinhart?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 23 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 Reinhart done against each other?
In 40 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 23–17. Kucherov had 51 points (16 goals) and Reinhart had 34 (25 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 →