Who to start · 2025-26
Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18.
Crosby had 74 points in 68 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Crosby has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Crosby's 2.0.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Crosby's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.063, Goals above expected +6.6, Faceoff win % 55.2%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, Blocked shots 48, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.008.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Thompson 47–27.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sidney Crosby
2.18
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 | Crosby | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.68 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Crosby 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.
Crosby 9G 14A, 57 SOG · Thompson 9G 6A, 62 SOG
Crosby's offensive zone 19–11 · neutral 17–12 · Crosby's defensive zone 11–4 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Crosby blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Crosby's.
On the ice against each other (Crosby's side)
15:05 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Crosby's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–8
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 52.1%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crosby | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-11-26 | PIT 4–2 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-27 | PIT 3–7 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-17 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-10-16 | PIT 6–5 BUF | 1G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | PIT 1–3 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-11 | PIT 4–0 BUF | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-10 | PIT 3–1 BUF | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-12-09 | PIT 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-02 | PIT 3–6 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-23 | PIT 3–4 BUF | 1G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2021-12-17 | PIT 3–2 BUF | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18. Crosby had 74 points in 68 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, Sidney Crosby or Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Crosby and Thompson done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Crosby's team went 14–8. Crosby had 23 points (9 goals) and Thompson had 15 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crosby or Thompson?
- Against each other, Crosby has won 47 and Thompson 27 of their 74 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 →