Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Vladislav Gavrikov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Gavrikov had 35 in 82 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Gavrikov has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Gavrikov's 1.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, On-ice PDO 1046, Expected goals 57.2%.
Gavrikov's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 23.0, Hits 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Vladislav Gavrikov
1.51
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Gavrikov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.28 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.21 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.13 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.78 |
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 Gavrikov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 5G 11A, 38 SOG · Gavrikov 1G 2A, 14 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Gavrikov's shots; Gavrikov blocked 2 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
27:07 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 34–20
- 63.0%
- Expected goals
- 2.2–0.7
- 77.0%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Gavrikov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | TBL 1–5 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-15 | TBL 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-29 | TBL 4–1 NYR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-12 | TBL 3–7 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-30 | TBL 3–0 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-01-04 | TBL 1–2 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-23 | TBL 3–4 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-09 | TBL 3–2 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-15 | TBL 4–1 CBJ | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-10-14 | TBL 5–2 CBJ | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-28 | TBL 2–5 CBJ | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-26 | TBL 4–1 CBJ | 1G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 13 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 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Vladislav Gavrikov
4games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.0 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Vladislav Gavrikov 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 Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Gavrikov had 35 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 Vladislav Gavrikov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov 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 Kucherov and Gavrikov done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 7–6. Kucherov had 16 points (5 goals) and Gavrikov had 3 (1 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 →