Who to start · 2025-26
Sidney Crosby vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Crosby had 74 points in 68 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Crosby has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left. We project Crosby for 1.9 ESPN points to Hertl's 1.7.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Luck Meter +61, On-ice PDO 1016.
Hertl's biggest edges: Expected goals 55.2%, Scoring chances 56.7%, Sequence xG 54.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Crosby 38–28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crosby | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.68 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.14 |
| 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: Crosby vs Hertl
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Crosby 3G 10A, 29 SOG · Hertl 6G 3A, 34 SOG
Crosby's offensive zone 13–13 · neutral 9–12 · Crosby's defensive zone 6–13 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crosby | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-11 | PIT 3–2 VGK | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-07 | PIT 0–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-04 | PIT 10–2 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-02-14 | PIT 3–1 SJS | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-28 | PIT 4–6 SJS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-15 | PIT 2–1 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-01-02 | PIT 8–5 SJS | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-02-21 | PIT 0–4 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2019-01-15 | PIT 2–5 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 3S |
| 2018-01-30 | PIT 5–2 SJS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2018-01-20 | PIT 1–2 SJS | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
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)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.9 pts
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sidney Crosby or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Crosby had 74 points in 68 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Crosby's team went 6–5. Crosby had 13 points (3 goals) and Hertl had 9 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crosby or Hertl?
- Against each other, Crosby has won 28 and Hertl 38 of their 66 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 →