Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Luck Meter +27, Penalty minutes 93.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Corsi 49.7%, Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.022.
- • 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
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Rantanen vs Buchnevich
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rantanen 13G 13A, 64 SOG · Buchnevich 7G 12A, 45 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
Rantanen blocked 0 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 1 of Rantanen's.
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
18:28 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–19
- 40.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.1
- 21.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | DAL 0–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-04 | DAL 5–4 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-27 | DAL 4–3 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-23 | DAL 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-18 | DAL 1–3 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-19 | COL 4–3 STL | 3G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-29 | COL 2–1 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-11-11 | COL 2–8 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2023-11-01 | COL 4–1 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-18 | COL 4–1 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-14 | COL 2–3 STL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-05-27 · PO | COL 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mikko Rantanen or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rantanen and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 14–8. Rantanen had 26 points (13 goals) and Buchnevich had 19 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 0 and Buchnevich 1 of their 1 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 →