Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Elias Pettersson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Pettersson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Burns's 0.9.
Elias Pettersson has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Plus/minus +33, Goals above expected +4.8, Luck Meter +60.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.002, Blocked shots 108, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.55 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 0.70 |
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: Burns vs Pettersson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Burns 2G 14A, 51 SOG · Pettersson 3G 11A, 35 SOG
Burns blocked 2 of Pettersson's shots; Pettersson blocked 3 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
12:48 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–9
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 48.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-01 | COL 6–8 VAN | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-02 | COL 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-09 | COL 5–4 VAN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-10 | CAR 2–0 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-28 | CAR 4–3 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-06 | CAR 2–3 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-12-09 | CAR 3–4 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2023-01-15 | CAR 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-24 | CAR 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-09 | SJS 2–4 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-02-17 | SJS 4–5 VAN | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2021-12-16 | SJS 2–5 VAN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Elias Pettersson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 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, Brent Burns or Elias Pettersson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Elias Pettersson leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and Pettersson done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 9–11. Burns had 16 points (2 goals) and Pettersson had 14 (3 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 →