Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov? Week 4
Points leagues, Week 4 (Oct 19-25): start Nathan MacKinnon. Both count 2 games left in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to value per game: 3.4 fantasy points to 3.1. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), Cs ranked 1st and 3rd at the position.
Updated Oct 23, 4:50 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- FP/G
- 3.10
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 6.21
The Week 4 call
Points leagues, Week 4 (Oct 19-25): start Nathan MacKinnon. Both count 2 games left in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to value per game: 3.4 fantasy points to 3.1.
Categories leagues: Nathan MacKinnon again, 17.4 category value for the week to 14.5.
Over COL's last 5 games Nathan MacKinnon played 5 games, 22:48 a night with 3:55 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, 20:27 a night with 3:40 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
COL has a back-to-back and TBL has a back-to-back in Week 4.
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 4 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Nathan MacKinnon | Nikita Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 22:48 (5) | 20:27 (5) |
| TOI, board | 21:56 | 20:39 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:55 | 3:40 |
| Shots, last games | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Projected category value | 17.4 | 14.5 |
Schedule: Nathan MacKinnon Mon @PHI, Tue @NJD, Fri TBL, Sun @NSH. Nikita Kucherov Tue @VGK, Fri @COL, Sat @UTA.
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: Nathan MacKinnon, 3.42 fantasy points per game to 3.10.
Categories leagues: Nathan MacKinnon again, 4th overall against 7th.
| Category (z per game) | Nathan MacKinnon | Nikita Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| G goals | 2.3 | 1.6 |
| +/- plus-minus | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.7 | -0.8 |
| HIT hits | -0.5 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.5 | 1.6 |
| SOG shots on goal | 3.3 | 1.0 |
Other close calls
Week 4 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov in Week 4?
Points leagues, Week 4 (Oct 19-25): start Nathan MacKinnon. Both count 2 games left in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to value per game: 3.4 fantasy points to 3.1. Categories leagues: Nathan MacKinnon again, 17.4 category value for the week to 14.5. Over COL's last 5 games Nathan MacKinnon played 5 games, 22:48 a night with 3:55 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, 20:27 a night with 3:40 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. COL has a back-to-back and TBL has a back-to-back in Week 4.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov?
Season-long, points leagues: Nathan MacKinnon, 3.42 fantasy points per game to 3.10. Categories leagues: Nathan MacKinnon again, 4th overall against 7th.
Who wins more categories, Nathan MacKinnon or Nikita Kucherov?
Nathan MacKinnon is ahead per game in 4 (goals, blocked shots, hits, shots on goal); Nikita Kucherov in 3 (assists, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 23, 2026 at 4:50 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number