Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vladimir Tarasenko projects to 1.52 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Vladimir Tarasenko has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, 20+ mph bursts 107, Plus/minus +15.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.1, Forecheck xG /60 0.28, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.46
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vladimir Tarasenko has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 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: Byram vs Tarasenko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Byram 1G 7A, 36 SOG · Tarasenko 4G 5A, 43 SOG
Byram blocked 4 of Tarasenko's shots; Tarasenko blocked 1 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
9:43 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–6
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.5
- 49.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-17 | BUF 4–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-29 | BUF 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-12 | BUF 3–7 DET | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-09 | BUF 5–6 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-02 | BUF 1–2 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-26 | BUF 5–3 DET | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-13 | BUF 2–3 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-21 | COL 6–4 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-05-27 · PO | COL 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-05-25 · PO | COL 4–5 STL | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-05-23 · PO | COL 6–3 STL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-05-21 · PO | COL 5–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or Vladimir Tarasenko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vladimir Tarasenko projects to 1.52 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 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, Bowen Byram or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Vladimir Tarasenko leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Byram and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 9–8. Byram had 8 points (1 goals) and Tarasenko had 9 (4 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 →