Who to start · 2026-27
Alex Vlasic vs Marcus Pettersson
In 2026-27, Alex Vlasic scored 1.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Marcus Pettersson's 1.21.
Vlasic had 4 points in 20 games; Pettersson had 4 in 21 games.
This week Vlasic has no games left; Pettersson has no games left.
Marcus Pettersson has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Vlasic's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 12, Top skating speed 21.5, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.40, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.012, On-ice PDO 1018.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Marcus Pettersson rates ahead, -2.8 to -4.0 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Vlasic is rising, +2:48 TOI a game; Pettersson is rising, On-ice xGF/60 3.22 (was 2.06).
- • Vlasic, last 10 games (Oct 25–Nov 14): 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 16 SOG.
- • Pettersson, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 13): 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Chicago Blackhawks · New York Rangers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Marcus Pettersson has the edge (Vlasic wins 2, Pettersson wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Vlasic | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Assists / game | 0.20 | 0.19 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.25 | 0.10 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.05 | 0.62 |
| Hits / game | 0.45 | 1.24 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Vlasic vs Pettersson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vlasic 1G 2A, 14 SOG · Pettersson 0G 5A, 7 SOG
On the ice against each other (Vlasic's side)
23:33 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Vlasic's side
- Shot attempts
- 23–23
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.7
- 60.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vlasic | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | CHI 3–6 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-11-05 | CHI 5–2 VAN | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-17 | CHI 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-15 | CHI 2–6 VAN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-15 | CHI 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-10 | CHI 4–2 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Alex Vlasic
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Thu, Nov 12 vs BUF
- Sat, Nov 14 vs WPGOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.880)
Marcus Pettersson
3games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 @ EDM
- Wed, Nov 11 @ CGYOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Devin Cooley (.914)
- Fri, Nov 13 @ VANOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.885)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Vlasic or Marcus Pettersson in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Alex Vlasic scored 1.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Marcus Pettersson's 1.21. Vlasic had 4 points in 20 games; Pettersson had 4 in 21 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, Alex Vlasic or Marcus Pettersson?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Marcus Pettersson leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vlasic and Pettersson done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Vlasic's team went 2–4. Vlasic had 3 points (1 goals) and Pettersson had 5 (0 goals).
2026-27 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 →