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Who to start · 2025-26

David Pastrnak vs Noah Cates

David PastrnakDavid PastrnakBruins · Right wingvsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week Pastrnak has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pastrnak for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.

David Pastrnak has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Pastrnak's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.1, Transition attempts /60 1.66, Power-play share 82.4%.

Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Faceoffs won 467, High-danger chances 52.6%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

David Pastrnak

2.44

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromPastrnakCates
Goals (+2)0.660.39
Assists (+1)0.930.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.180.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.350.16
Hits (+0.1)0.100.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.30

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 Cates

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

PastrnakCates
8Team record in 12 meetings4
15Points in those games2

Pastrnak 7G 8A, 43 SOG · Cates 0G 2A, 18 SOG

1Shots blocked by the other0

Pastrnak blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Pastrnak's.

On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)

12:13 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side

Shot attempts
8–12
40.0%
Expected goals
0.2–0.6
27.9%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between David Pastrnak and Noah Cates
DateScorePastrnakCates
2026-04-05BOS 1–2 PHI0G 1A 4S0G 0A 4S
2026-02-28BOS 1–3 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 1A 0S
2026-01-29BOS 6–3 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-07BOS 4–3 PHI0G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S
2024-11-02BOS 3–0 PHI0G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S
2024-10-29BOS 0–2 PHI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2024-03-23BOS 2–3 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2024-03-16BOS 6–5 PHI0G 1A 1S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-27BOS 6–2 PHI2G 1A 8S0G 0A 2S
2023-04-09BOS 5–3 PHI3G 1A 10S0G 1A 3S
2023-01-16BOS 6–0 PHI2G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S
2022-11-17BOS 4–1 PHI0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

PastrnakCates

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)

Noah Cates

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start David Pastrnak or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Cates had 47 in 82 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 Noah Cates?
On 2025-26 numbers, David Pastrnak leads in 20 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 Cates done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 8–4. Pastrnak had 15 points (7 goals) and Cates had 2 (0 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 →