Who to start · 2025-26
David Pastrnak vs John Carlson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Carlson's 2.10.
Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.
This week Pastrnak has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Carlson has 1 left. We project Pastrnak for 1.9 ESPN points to Carlson's 1.9.
David Pastrnak has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Hits 86, Penalty minutes 72, On-ice PDO 1027.
Carlson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Goals above expected +1.7, Top skating speed 22.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Pastrnak
2.44
fantasy points per game
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pastrnak | Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.37 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.61 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.76 |
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: Pastrnak vs Carlson
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.
Pastrnak 15G 23A, 128 SOG · Carlson 5G 14A, 70 SOG
Pastrnak blocked 0 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 7 of Pastrnak's.
On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)
9:03 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–16
- 36.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.6
- 17.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pastrnak | Carlson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-08 | BOS 3–1 WSH | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-01 | BOS 3–4 WSH | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-12-31 | BOS 1–3 WSH | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-23 | BOS 4–1 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-15 | BOS 0–2 WSH | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-30 | BOS 3–2 WSH | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-10 | BOS 0–3 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-11 | BOS 5–2 WSH | 0G 2A 8S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-10-12 | BOS 5–2 WSH | 1G 3A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-10 | BOS 7–3 WSH | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-23 · PO | BOS 3–1 WSH | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-21 · PO | BOS 4–1 WSH | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 31 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.
David Pastrnak
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.9 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start David Pastrnak or John Carlson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Carlson's 2.10. Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 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, David Pastrnak or John Carlson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, David Pastrnak leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pastrnak and Carlson done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 16–15. Pastrnak had 38 points (15 goals) and Carlson had 19 (5 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 →