Who to start · 2025-26
David Pastrnak 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 David Pastrnak's 2.44.
Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Pastrnak has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 3.0 ESPN points to Pastrnak's 2.5.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Hits 86, Transition attempts /60 1.66, Blocked shots 32.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, High-danger chances 56.9%, Scoring chances 56.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Pastrnak
2.44
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 | Pastrnak | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Pastrnak 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.
Pastrnak 16G 25A, 134 SOG · Kucherov 9G 23A, 108 SOG
Pastrnak blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Pastrnak's.
On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)
11:37 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–17
- 34.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 49.9%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pastrnak | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | BOS 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-04 | BOS 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-01 | BOS 5–6 TBL | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 3A 8S |
| 2025-10-13 | BOS 3–4 TBL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-15 | BOS 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-08 | BOS 4–0 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-14 | BOS 6–2 TBL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-01-09 | BOS 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-03-27 | BOS 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-13 | BOS 2–3 TBL | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-01-06 | BOS 7–3 TBL | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2023-11-20 | BOS 4–5 TBL | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 7S |
Latest 12 of 34 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.
David Pastrnak
3games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B2.5 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH3.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start David Pastrnak 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 David Pastrnak's 2.44. Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 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, David Pastrnak or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pastrnak and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 13–21. Pastrnak had 41 points (16 goals) and Kucherov had 32 (9 goals).
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 →