Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Tavares has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.6 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.8.
Auston Matthews has the better number in 18 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.09, Blocked shots 81, Plus/minus −4.
Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Luck Meter +12, Goals above expected −1.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.22 |
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: Matthews vs Tavares
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.
Matthews 3G 2A, 13 SOG · Tavares 1G 0A, 10 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 1–1 · Matthews's defensive zone 3–1 (2017-18)
Matthews blocked 2 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 3 of Matthews's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
11:17 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 13–10
- 56.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.8
- 37.5%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-30 | TOR 5–4 NYI | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2018-02-22 | TOR 4–3 NYI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-01-31 | TOR 5–0 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
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.
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Matthews had 53 points in 60 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, Auston Matthews or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Auston Matthews leads in 18 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matthews and Tavares done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 3–0. Matthews had 5 points (3 goals) and Tavares had 1 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Tavares?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 6 and Tavares 3 of their 9 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 →