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Who to start · 2025-26

Anthony Cirelli vs John Tavares

Anthony CirelliAnthony CirelliLightning · CentrevsJohn TavaresJohn TavaresMaple Leafs · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.

Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.

This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.

John Tavares has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Scoring chances 55.6%, High-danger chances 56.6%.

Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Power-play share 69.1%.

Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Cirelli 65–48.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Anthony Cirelli

1.67

fantasy points per game

John Tavares

1.80

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromCirelliTavares
Goals (+2)0.610.67
Assists (+1)0.380.49
Power-play points (+0.5)0.030.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.030.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.180.24
Hits (+0.1)0.070.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.370.22

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 Tavares

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.

CirelliTavares
15Team record in 35 meetings20
20Points in those games31

Cirelli 7G 13A, 70 SOG · Tavares 13G 18A, 100 SOG

48Faceoffs against each other65

Cirelli's offensive zone 15–11 · neutral 14–24 · Cirelli's defensive zone 19–30 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

0Hits on each other3
2Shots blocked by the other3

Cirelli blocked 2 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 3 of Cirelli's.

1Penalties drawn off the other0

On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)

4:47 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side

Shot attempts
6–0
100.0%
Expected goals
0.1–0.0
100.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Anthony Cirelli and John Tavares
DateScoreCirelliTavares
2026-03-07TBL 5–2 TOR0G 2A 5S0G 0A 2S
2025-12-08TBL 0–2 TOR0G 0A 4S0G 1A 0S
2025-04-09TBL 3–4 TOR0G 1A 5S0G 1A 2S
2024-11-30TBL 3–5 TOR0G 0A 5S1G 0A 3S
2024-10-21TBL 2–5 TOR0G 0A 2S0G 1A 4S
2024-04-03TBL 4–1 TOR0G 0A 0S0G 1A 2S
2023-11-06TBL 5–6 TOR0G 0A 2S0G 0A 4S
2023-10-21TBL 3–4 TOR0G 0A 2S1G 1A 7S
2023-04-29 · POTBL 1–2 TOR0G 1A 4S1G 0A 1S
2023-04-27 · POTBL 4–2 TOR1G 1A 4S0G 2A 5S
2023-04-24 · POTBL 4–5 TOR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2023-04-22 · POTBL 3–4 TOR1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S

Latest 12 of 35 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.

CirelliTavares

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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)

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 pts
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

John Tavares

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
    Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Anthony Cirelli or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Tavares had 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or John Tavares?
On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Cirelli and Tavares done against each other?
In 35 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 15–20. Cirelli had 20 points (7 goals) and Tavares had 31 (13 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Tavares?
Against each other, Cirelli has won 48 and Tavares 65 of their 113 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 →