Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Ekholm 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 Ekholm's 1.1.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Transition attempts /60 0.80, Top skating speed 22.2.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Power-play share 53.8%, Goals above expected −2.5, Power-play time per game 2:20.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mattias Ekholm has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 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: Ekholm 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.
Ekholm 4G 9A, 36 SOG · Buchnevich 3G 5A, 30 SOG
Ekholm blocked 2 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 3 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
9:38 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–8
- 57.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.2
- 87.1%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-13 | EDM 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-18 | EDM 5–0 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-03 | EDM 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-04 | EDM 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-07 | EDM 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-01 | EDM 2–3 STL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-28 | EDM 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-15 | EDM 3–6 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-19 | NSH 2–5 STL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-17 | NSH 3–8 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-11-11 | NSH 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-12-16 | NSH 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
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 Mattias Ekholm or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 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, Mattias Ekholm or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm 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 Ekholm and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 7–9. Ekholm had 13 points (4 goals) and Buchnevich had 8 (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 →