Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Pavel Dorofeyev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Dorofeyev's 1.90.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Dorofeyev had 64 in 82 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Dorofeyev has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Dorofeyev's 1.4.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, On-ice PDO 1046, Penalty minutes 50.
Dorofeyev's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.034, Ascension score 53, Transition attempts /60 1.65.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Pavel Dorofeyev
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.86 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.20 |
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 Dorofeyev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 8G 3A, 25 SOG · Dorofeyev 2G 1A, 17 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Dorofeyev's shots; Dorofeyev blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
8:05 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–7
- 61.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 60.4%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | TBL 1–5 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-06 | TBL 6–3 VGK | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-26 | TBL 2–1 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-23 | TBL 2–4 VGK | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-17 | TBL 4–3 VGK | 2G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-21 | TBL 5–4 VGK | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
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)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Pavel Dorofeyev
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Pavel Dorofeyev 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 Dorofeyev's 1.90. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Dorofeyev had 64 in 82 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 Dorofeyev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 26 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 Dorofeyev done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 4–2. Kucherov had 11 points (8 goals) and Dorofeyev had 3 (2 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 →