Who to start · 2025-26
Eeli Tolvanen vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Eeli Tolvanen projects to 1.71 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Tolvanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Buchnevich for 1.5 ESPN points to Tolvanen's 1.3.
Pavel Buchnevich has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tolvanen's biggest edges: Hits 187, Transition attempts /60 1.47, Ascension score 57.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Sequence xG 52.5%, Expected goals 52.5%, Faceoffs won 98.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Eeli Tolvanen
1.71
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Eeli Tolvanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tolvanen | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.48 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.26 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.23 |
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: Tolvanen vs Buchnevich
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tolvanen 3G 5A, 16 SOG · Buchnevich 3G 6A, 13 SOG
On the ice against each other (Tolvanen's side)
7:22 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tolvanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–5
- 58.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 54.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tolvanen | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | SEA 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-26 | SEA 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | SEA 4–3 STL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-04-12 | SEA 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-25 | SEA 2–7 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-08 | SEA 2–3 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-14 | SEA 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-26 | SEA 3–4 STL | 1G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-14 | SEA 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-28 | SEA 5–3 STL | 0G 3A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-17 | NSH 3–8 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-11-11 | NSH 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Eeli Tolvanen
4games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Eeli Tolvanen or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Eeli Tolvanen projects to 1.71 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 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, Eeli Tolvanen or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Buchnevich leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tolvanen and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Tolvanen's team went 4–8. Tolvanen had 8 points (3 goals) and Buchnevich had 9 (3 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 →