Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +15, Scoring chances 58.3%, Fenwick 57.3%.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Hits 74, Draw Equity /100 +0.071.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Nelson 69–37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 6G 9A, 43 SOG · Tavares 9G 7A, 64 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 9–26 · neutral 13–18 · Nelson's defensive zone 15–25 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 1 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 0 of Nelson's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
14:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–18
- 48.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.5
- 56.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | COL 4–1 TOR | 3G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-12 | COL 3–4 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-19 | COL 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-08 | COL 7–4 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-02 | NYI 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-31 | NYI 1–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-21 | NYI 6–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-05 | NYI 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2024-01-11 | NYI 4–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-11 | NYI 4–3 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-21 | NYI 7–2 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-23 | NYI 2–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 8S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Tavares done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 11–10. Nelson had 15 points (6 goals) and Tavares had 16 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Tavares?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 37 and Tavares 69 of their 106 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 →