Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Crosby has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 3.0 ESPN points to Crosby's 2.2.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Expected goals 57.2%, Sequence xG 57.2%, Scoring chances 56.4%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 773, Ascension score 57, Top skating speed 22.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Kucherov 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.
Kucherov 11G 22A, 81 SOG · Crosby 8G 13A, 52 SOG
Kucherov's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Kucherov's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23)
Kucherov blocked 0 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 2 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
8:37 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–6
- 73.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.3
- 69.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | TBL 6–3 PIT | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-13 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-04 | TBL 3–4 PIT | 1G 1A 10S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-25 | TBL 6–1 PIT | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-12 | TBL 5–2 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-19 | TBL 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-06 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 3A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-06 | TBL 3–1 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-30 | TBL 2–4 PIT | 0G 2A 8S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-10-15 | TBL 2–6 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
3.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH3.0 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 Nikita Kucherov or Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 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, Nikita Kucherov or Sidney Crosby?
- 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 12–9. Kucherov had 33 points (11 goals) and Crosby had 21 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kucherov or Crosby?
- Against each other, Kucherov has won 1 and Crosby 0 of their 1 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 →