Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.2.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 30 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Luck Meter +54, Transition attempts /60 1.45.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 98, Blocked shots 40, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.022.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 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
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Kucherov 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.
Kucherov 5G 19A, 40 SOG · Buchnevich 3G 7A, 28 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
6:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–4
- 76.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.4
- 69.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-16 | TBL 2–3 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-22 | TBL 4–1 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | TBL 3–1 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-05 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-19 | TBL 6–1 STL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-14 | TBL 0–5 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-01-14 | TBL 4–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-25 | TBL 5–2 STL | 0G 3A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2019-11-14 | TBL 9–3 NYR | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-10-29 | TBL 1–4 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-02-27 | TBL 4–3 NYR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-02-02 | TBL 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 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
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.
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.2 ptsSchedule edge −12.8 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 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, Nikita Kucherov or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 30 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kucherov and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 10–5. Kucherov had 24 points (5 goals) and Buchnevich had 10 (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 →