Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Buchnevich vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Buchnevich has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stamkos for 2.0 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.12, Plus/minus −10, Sequence xG 52.5%.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.085, Faceoff win % 57.7%, Top skating speed 23.0.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Buchnevich | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.46 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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, 37 SOG · Stamkos 9G 15A, 47 SOG
Buchnevich's offensive zone 0–4 · neutral 0–1 · Buchnevich's defensive zone 0–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Buchnevich blocked 0 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 1 of Buchnevich's.
On the ice against each other (Buchnevich's side)
21:00 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Buchnevich's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–21
- 44.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–1.1
- 57.5%
- Goals
- 3–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Buchnevich | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | STL 5–6 NSH | 2G 1A 6S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-27 | STL 3–2 NSH | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-15 | STL 2–5 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-11 | STL 2–7 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 4G 0A 9S |
| 2025-03-18 | STL 4–1 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-27 | STL 7–4 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-19 | STL 1–6 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2023-11-14 | STL 5–0 TBL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-14 | STL 2–4 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-11-25 | STL 2–5 TBL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2021-12-02 | STL 2–4 TBL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-14 | NYR 3–9 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 18 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 −16.8 win%vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Buchnevich or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Stamkos had 66 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, Pavel Buchnevich or Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 26 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Buchnevich's team went 6–12. Buchnevich had 15 points (7 goals) and Stamkos had 24 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Buchnevich or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Buchnevich has won 0 and Stamkos 6 of their 6 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 →