Who to start · 2025-26
Ivar Stenberg vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivar Stenberg projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.36.
Stenberg had 7 points in 10 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Stenberg has 3 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Buchnevich has 3 left with 2 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Stenberg for 4.2 to Buchnevich's 3.5 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Pavel Buchnevich rates ahead, +0.4 to -0.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Stenberg is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.40/GP before); Buchnevich is surging, ixG/60 1.13 (was 0.74).
- • Ivar Stenberg is an NHL rookie: this is his first season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 6 PPP, 15 SOG.
- • Buchnevich has played 8 of the Blues' 9 games since Oct 2 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 13 SOG.
San Jose Sharks · St. Louis Blues · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivar Stenberg
-0.5
category z-score total
Pavel Buchnevich
+0.4
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Pavel Buchnevich has the edge (Stenberg wins 2, Buchnevich wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Stenberg | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.20 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 0.50 | 0.40 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.80 | -0.04 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.60 | 0.20 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.50 | 1.71 |
| Hits / game | 0.20 | 0.37 |
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: Stenberg vs Buchnevich
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.
Stenberg 0G 1A, 2 SOG · Buchnevich 0G 0A, 1 SOG
On the ice against each other (Stenberg's side)
2:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27, from Stenberg's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–4
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 77.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stenberg | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-08 | SJS 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 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.
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
Ivar Stenberg
4games (3 left)
4.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ TOROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ OTT1.5 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ BOS1.1 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Pavel Buchnevich
3games
3.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs WPG1.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs VGK1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs CAR1.1 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivar Stenberg or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivar Stenberg projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.36. Stenberg had 7 points in 10 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.
- How have Stenberg and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Stenberg's team went 1–0. Stenberg had 1 points (0 goals) and Buchnevich 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 →