Who to start · 2025-26
David Pastrnak vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.10.
Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Pastrnak has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Pastrnak's 1.8.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 72, Transition attempts /60 1.66, Assists 71.
Rakell's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Goals above expected +0.3, Faceoffs won 81.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Pastrnak
2.44
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pastrnak | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.34 |
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 Rakell
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 13G 11A, 76 SOG · Rakell 6G 8A, 48 SOG
On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)
15:36 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–13
- 56.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.5
- 55.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pastrnak | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | BOS 4–5 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-03 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-11 | BOS 1–0 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-13 | BOS 4–1 PIT | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-03-01 | BOS 3–2 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-29 | BOS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-13 | BOS 6–4 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-03-09 | BOS 5–1 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-04 | BOS 5–6 PIT | 1G 2A 7S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-04-01 | BOS 4–3 PIT | 3G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-02 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-01 | BOS 6–5 PIT | 0G 1A 7S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 17 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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start David Pastrnak or Rickard Rakell 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 Rickard Rakell's 2.10. Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Pastrnak and Rakell done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 10–7. Pastrnak had 24 points (13 goals) and Rakell had 14 (6 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 →