Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Dvorak has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Dvorak's 1.1.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 629, Blocked shots 52, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Hardest shot 92.1, Fenwick 55.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
1.42
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Dvorak | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.21 |
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: Dvorak vs Kucherov
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.
Dvorak 3G 3A, 20 SOG · Kucherov 12G 13A, 44 SOG
Dvorak's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Dvorak's defensive zone 1–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
14:00 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–16
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.3
- 14.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-12 | PHI 1–5 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2026-01-10 | PHI 2–7 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2025-11-24 | PHI 0–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 0S |
| 2025-01-21 | MTL 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-29 | MTL 5–2 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-07 | MTL 3–5 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2022-12-28 | MTL 1–4 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-17 | MTL 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-02 | MTL 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2020-02-22 | ARI 7–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-01-09 | ARI 0–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2019-03-18 | ARI 1–4 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 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.
Christian Dvorak
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to CLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.1 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Christian Dvorak or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42. Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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, Christian Dvorak or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dvorak and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 5–9. Dvorak had 6 points (3 goals) and Kucherov had 25 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Dvorak or Kucherov?
- Against each other, Dvorak has won 1 and Kucherov 0 of their 1 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 →