Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nelson for 1.6 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 27 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Corsi 57.5%, Fenwick 57.3%, Plus/minus +15.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Luck Meter +30, Goals above expected +4.1, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.00
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.40 | 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 Tarasenko
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 5G 12A, 59 SOG · Tarasenko 7G 8A, 60 SOG
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
15:11 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–15
- 51.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 68.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 · PO | COL 4–3 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-11 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-05-09 · PO | COL 1–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-05 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-05-03 · PO | COL 9–6 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-25 | COL 5–2 DET | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-25 | NYI 2–4 DET | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-21 | NYI 1–2 DET | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-22 | NYI 0–1 DET | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 24 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)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.6 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Vladimir Tarasenko 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 Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 27 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 16–8. Nelson had 17 points (5 goals) and Tarasenko had 15 (7 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 →