David Pastrnak or Nikita Kucherov? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start David Pastrnak. David Pastrnak counts 3 games left to 2 for Nikita Kucherov, for 8.3 projected fantasy points against 6.2. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 1st and 2nd at the position.
- FP/G
- 3.08
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 6.17
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start David Pastrnak. David Pastrnak counts 3 games left to 2 for Nikita Kucherov, for 8.3 projected fantasy points against 6.2.
Categories leagues: David Pastrnak again, 15.5 category value for the week to 15.4.
Over BOS's last 5 games David Pastrnak played 5 games, 20:00 a night with 3:24 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over TBL's last 5 games Nikita Kucherov played 5 games, 21:31 a night with 6:00 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
BOS has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | David Pastrnak | Nikita Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 20:00 (5) | 21:31 (5) |
| TOI, board | 20:25 | 20:34 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:24 | 6:00 |
| Shots, last games | 3.8 | 1.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 8.3 | 6.2 |
| Projected category value | 15.5 | 15.4 |
Schedule: David Pastrnak Tue @SJS, Fri @ANA, Sat @LAK. Nikita Kucherov Tue @NYR, Thu SEA, Sat VAN.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
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The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Nikita Kucherov, 3.08 fantasy points per game to 2.76.
Categories leagues: Nikita Kucherov again, 4th overall against 10th.
| Category (z per game) | David Pastrnak | Nikita Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 2.0 | 3.5 |
| G goals | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.1 | 2.2 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.8 | -0.8 |
| HIT hits | 0.2 | -0.8 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.8 | 0.6 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start David Pastrnak or Nikita Kucherov in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start David Pastrnak. David Pastrnak counts 3 games left to 2 for Nikita Kucherov, for 8.3 projected fantasy points against 6.2. Categories leagues: David Pastrnak again, 15.5 category value for the week to 15.4. Over BOS's last 5 games David Pastrnak played 5 games, 20:00 a night with 3:24 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over TBL's last 5 games Nikita Kucherov played 5 games, 21:31 a night with 6:00 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. BOS has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, David Pastrnak or Nikita Kucherov?
Season-long, points leagues: Nikita Kucherov, 3.08 fantasy points per game to 2.76. Categories leagues: Nikita Kucherov again, 4th overall against 10th.
Who wins more categories, David Pastrnak or Nikita Kucherov?
David Pastrnak is ahead per game in 2 (hits, shots on goal); Nikita Kucherov in 4 (assists, goals, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number