Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs John Carlson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Carlson has 1 left. We project Carlson for 2.1 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.7.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002, Penalty minutes 48, On-ice PDO 1052.
Carlson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.96, Hardest shot 99.8, Offensive-zone time 43.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.37 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.61 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.76 |
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: Cirelli vs Carlson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 4G 8A, 31 SOG · Carlson 5G 13A, 76 SOG
Cirelli blocked 5 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 2 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
11:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–13
- 35.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.8
- 48.2%
- Goals
- 2–2
On the ice together
3:04 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 6–2
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 34.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Carlson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-22 | TBL 5–3 WSH | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-14 | TBL 2–3 WSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-01 | TBL 3–1 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | TBL 4–5 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | TBL 3–0 WSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-13 | TBL 2–4 WSH | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-22 | TBL 3–5 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-23 | TBL 2–1 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-30 | TBL 5–1 WSH | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-06 | TBL 3–4 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 3S |
| 2021-11-01 | TBL 3–2 WSH | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-10-16 | TBL 2–1 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 25 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.1 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or John Carlson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or John Carlson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Carlson done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 12–13. Cirelli had 12 points (4 goals) and Carlson had 18 (5 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 →