Who to start · 2025-26
Mike Matheson vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Matheson 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 Matheson's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Matheson's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Plus/minus +9, 20+ mph bursts 90.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 42.9%, Offensive-zone start % 53.1%, Sequence xG 52.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matheson | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 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: Matheson 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.
Matheson 2G 7A, 34 SOG · Buchnevich 3G 8A, 34 SOG
Matheson blocked 3 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 0 of Matheson's.
On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)
16:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–14
- 39.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.0
- 13.5%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matheson | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | MTL 0–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-07 | MTL 3–4 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-26 | MTL 5–2 STL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-11 | MTL 2–7 STL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-04 | MTL 3–6 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-17 | PIT 3–2 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-05 | PIT 5–3 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-04-08 | PIT 5–2 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-04-06 | PIT 4–8 NYR | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2021-03-09 | PIT 4–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-03-07 | PIT 5–1 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-11-16 | FLA 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
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 −16.8 win%vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mike Matheson or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Matheson had 37 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, Mike Matheson or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Matheson and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 10–7. Matheson had 9 points (2 goals) and Buchnevich had 11 (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 →