Who to start · 2025-26
Justin Faulk vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Justin Faulk projects to 1.81 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Faulk had 40 points in 78 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Faulk has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Faulk for 1.5 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Pavel Buchnevich has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Faulk's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.6, Luck Meter +78, Top skating speed 22.7.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Sequence xG 52.5%, Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Expected goals 52.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Justin Faulk
1.81
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Justin Faulk has the edge.
| Points per game from | Faulk | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.79 | 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: Faulk 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.
Faulk 0G 4A, 31 SOG · Buchnevich 3G 6A, 22 SOG
Faulk blocked 0 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 4 of Faulk's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
292:37 at 5-on-5 over 61 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 273–281
- 49.3%
- Expected goals
- 13.6–13.9
- 49.5%
- Goals
- 13–12
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Faulk | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-03 | STL 3–1 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-11 | STL 5–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-02-19 | CAR 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-02-08 | CAR 3–0 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-01-15 | CAR 2–6 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2018-10-07 | CAR 8–5 NYR | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-31 | CAR 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-03-12 | CAR 3–6 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2017-12-01 | CAR 1–5 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2017-11-22 | CAR 1–6 NYR | 0G 1A 4S | 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.
Justin Faulk
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.5 ptsLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −16.8 win%Likely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Justin Faulk or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Justin Faulk projects to 1.81 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Faulk had 40 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, Justin Faulk or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Buchnevich leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Faulk and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Faulk's team went 4–6. Faulk had 4 points (0 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 →