Kirill Kaprizov or Nikita Kucherov? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nikita Kucherov, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 3.0 fantasy points to 2.9. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 1st and 1st at the position.
- FP/G
- 2.91
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 5.82
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nikita Kucherov, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 3.0 fantasy points to 2.9.
Categories leagues: Nikita Kucherov again, 13.7 category value for the week to 9.8.
Over MIN's last 5 games Kirill Kaprizov played 5 games, 21:21 a night with 2:42 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over TBL's last 5 games Nikita Kucherov played 5 games, 21:20 a night with 5:09 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
MIN has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | Kirill Kaprizov | Nikita Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 21:21 (5) | 21:20 (5) |
| TOI, board | 21:57 | 20:40 |
| PP TOI, last games | 2:42 | 5:09 |
| Shots, last games | 2.8 | 1.6 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.8 | 6.0 |
| Projected category value | 9.8 | 13.7 |
Schedule: Kirill Kaprizov Mon VGK, Tue @WPG, Thu STL, Sun CBJ. Nikita Kucherov Tue @NYR, Thu SEA, Sat VAN.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
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The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Nikita Kucherov, 2.98 fantasy points per game to 2.91.
Categories leagues: Nikita Kucherov again, 6th overall against 14th.
| Category (z per game) | Kirill Kaprizov | Nikita Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.2 | 3.2 |
| G goals | 2.6 | 1.3 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.8 | -0.8 |
| HIT hits | -0.6 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.5 | 0.5 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Kirill Kaprizov or Nikita Kucherov in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nikita Kucherov, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 3.0 fantasy points to 2.9. Categories leagues: Nikita Kucherov again, 13.7 category value for the week to 9.8. Over MIN's last 5 games Kirill Kaprizov played 5 games, 21:21 a night with 2:42 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over TBL's last 5 games Nikita Kucherov played 5 games, 21:20 a night with 5:09 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. MIN has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Kirill Kaprizov or Nikita Kucherov?
Season-long, points leagues: Nikita Kucherov, 2.98 fantasy points per game to 2.91. Categories leagues: Nikita Kucherov again, 6th overall against 14th.
Who wins more categories, Kirill Kaprizov or Nikita Kucherov?
Kirill Kaprizov is ahead per game in 3 (goals, hits, shots on goal); Nikita Kucherov in 3 (assists, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number