Who to start · 2025-26
Dmitry Kulikov vs Zach Metsa
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Metsa projects to 0.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Kulikov's 0.68.
Kulikov had 0 points in 19 games; Metsa had 6 in 43 games.
This week Kulikov has 3 games left with 2 soft and 1 tough matchups; Metsa has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kulikov for 2.8 to Metsa's 1.5 over the games left.
Zach Metsa has the better number in 9 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.
Kulikov's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.79, Scoring chances 51.8%, Corsi 52.1%.
Metsa's biggest edges: Luck Meter +41, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, On-ice PDO 1091.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Dmitry Kulikov rates ahead, -3.6 to -3.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kulikov is cooling, −3:56 TOI a game; Metsa is steady, Line Watch: moved up a line Oct 12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Florida Panthers · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dmitry Kulikov
-3.6
category z-score total
Zach Metsa
-3.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Dmitry Kulikov has the edge (Kulikov wins 2, Metsa wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kulikov | Metsa |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Assists / game | 0.08 | 0.14 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.04 | 0.19 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.70 | 0.47 |
| Hits / game | 1.18 | 0.11 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Kulikov vs Metsa
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2026-27 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kulikov 0G 0A, 0 SOG · Metsa 0G 0A, 0 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kulikov's side)
3:03 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27, from Kulikov's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–4
- 20.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 10.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kulikov | Metsa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-12 | FLA 3–5 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Dmitry Kulikov
3games
2.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT0.9 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to Dvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI1.0 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Zach Metsa
2games
1.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI0.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH0.7 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dmitry Kulikov or Zach Metsa in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Metsa projects to 0.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Kulikov's 0.68. Kulikov had 0 points in 19 games; Metsa had 6 in 43 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, Dmitry Kulikov or Zach Metsa?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Metsa leads in 9 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kulikov and Metsa done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Kulikov's team went 0–1. Kulikov had 0 points (0 goals) and Metsa had 0 (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 →