Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Buchnevich for 1.5 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Luck Meter +50, Fenwick 55.1%.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 42.9%, Power-play share 53.8%, Hardest shot 88.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.23 |
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: Cirelli vs Buchnevich
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.
Cirelli 5G 5A, 28 SOG · Buchnevich 3G 6A, 32 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 3–2 · Cirelli's defensive zone 1–1 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
Cirelli blocked 3 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
11:46 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–9
- 60.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.3
- 69.5%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-16 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-22 | TBL 4–1 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | TBL 3–1 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-05 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-19 | TBL 6–1 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-14 | TBL 0–5 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-01-14 | TBL 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-02 | TBL 4–2 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2021-11-30 | TBL 3–4 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-11-14 | TBL 9–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-02-27 | TBL 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-02-02 | TBL 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Buchnevich had 48 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, Anthony Cirelli or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 10–4. Cirelli had 10 points (5 goals) and Buchnevich had 9 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 4 and Buchnevich 3 of their 7 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 →