Who to start · 2025-26
Neal Pionk vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Neal Pionk's 1.66.
Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 games.
This week Pionk has 3 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Kucherov has 3 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 7.6 to Pionk's 5.3 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pionk's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Ascension score 85, Hits 111.
Kucherov's biggest edges: High-danger chances 56.9%, Luck Meter +54, Scoring chances 56.4%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +12.3 to +3.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Pionk is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before); Kucherov is cooling, 6 P in last 5 (1.50/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 17 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 3 PPP, 24 SOG.
Winnipeg Jets · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Neal Pionk
+3.7
category z-score total
Nikita Kucherov
+12.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Pionk wins 1, Kucherov wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Pionk | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.08 | 0.51 |
| Assists / game | 0.32 | 1.04 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.05 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.07 | 0.45 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.90 | 3.03 |
| Hits / game | 2.11 | 0.35 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Pionk vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pionk 1G 3A, 30 SOG · Kucherov 7G 14A, 44 SOG
Pionk blocked 4 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Pionk's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pionk | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-14 | WPG 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-11-03 | WPG 7–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-02 | WPG 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-22 | WPG 3–2 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-12 | WPG 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-06 | WPG 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-16 | WPG 4–7 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2022-03-08 | WPG 7–4 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2020-01-17 | WPG 1–7 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2019-11-16 | WPG 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-02-27 | NYR 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2019-02-02 | NYR 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Neal Pionk
3games
5.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ STL1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ DAL1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MTL1.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Nikita Kucherov
3games
7.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGK2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWvs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Neal Pionk or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Neal Pionk's 1.66. Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 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, Neal Pionk or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pionk and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Pionk's team went 7–8. Pionk had 4 points (1 goals) and Kucherov had 21 (7 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 →