Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Eriksson Ek 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 Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Hits 106, Transition attempts /60 1.35.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Offensive-zone start % 53.1%, Scoring chances 50.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eriksson Ek | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Eriksson Ek vs Buchnevich
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.
Eriksson Ek 7G 7A, 59 SOG · Buchnevich 9G 10A, 51 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 2–2 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
7:26 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–5
- 61.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 19.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | MIN 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-09 | MIN 5–0 STL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-07 | MIN 6–4 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-19 | MIN 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-02 | MIN 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-28 | MIN 3–1 STL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-15 | MIN 8–5 STL | 1G 2A 6S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-08 | MIN 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-31 | MIN 5–2 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-05-12 · PO | MIN 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-05-10 · PO | MIN 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-05-08 · PO | MIN 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
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 Joel Eriksson Ek or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 10–11. Eriksson Ek had 14 points (7 goals) and Buchnevich had 19 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 3 and Buchnevich 2 of their 5 head-to-head draws.
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 →