Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Buchnevich vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Buchnevich has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Expected goals 52.5%, Sequence xG 52.5%, Blocked shots 40.
Crosby's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.063, Faceoff win % 55.2%, Top skating speed 22.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Buchnevich | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.46 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.21 |
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: Buchnevich vs Crosby
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.
Buchnevich 7G 8A, 62 SOG · Crosby 11G 17A, 69 SOG
Buchnevich's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–0 · Buchnevich's defensive zone 0–1 (2020-21 to 2023-24)
Buchnevich blocked 0 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 3 of Buchnevich's.
On the ice against each other (Buchnevich's side)
8:00 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Buchnevich's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–11
- 47.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.9
- 16.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Buchnevich | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-27 | STL 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2025-04-03 | STL 5–4 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-13 | STL 3–5 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-12-30 | STL 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-25 | STL 2–3 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-03 | STL 2–6 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-03-17 | STL 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-01-05 | STL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2021-04-08 | NYR 2–5 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-04-06 | NYR 8–4 PIT | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-03-09 | NYR 2–4 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2021-03-07 | NYR 1–5 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely 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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Buchnevich or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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, Pavel Buchnevich or Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Buchnevich and Crosby done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Buchnevich's team went 6–18. Buchnevich had 15 points (7 goals) and Crosby had 28 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Buchnevich or Crosby?
- Against each other, Buchnevich has won 1 and Crosby 2 of their 3 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 →