Who to start · 2025-26
David Pastrnak vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Pastrnak has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Pastrnak for 1.8 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
David Pastrnak has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Plus/minus +4, Transition attempts /60 1.66, On-ice PDO 1027.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 801, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Top skating speed 22.7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Pastrnak
2.44
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pastrnak | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Pastrnak 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.
Pastrnak 25G 24A, 162 SOG · Tavares 9G 17A, 115 SOG
Pastrnak's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 2–1 · Pastrnak's defensive zone 0–1 (2021-22 to 2023-24)
Pastrnak blocked 1 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 1 of Pastrnak's.
On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)
8:48 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–7
- 63.2%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.4
- 72.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pastrnak | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | BOS 2–4 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2025-11-11 | BOS 5–3 TOR | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-08 | BOS 5–3 TOR | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-25 | BOS 4–5 TOR | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-04 | BOS 4–6 TOR | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-05 | BOS 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-26 | BOS 4–3 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-04 · PO | BOS 2–1 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-05-02 · PO | BOS 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | BOS 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | BOS 3–1 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | BOS 4–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 39 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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
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 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start David Pastrnak or John Tavares 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 Tavares's 1.80. Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 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, David Pastrnak or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, David Pastrnak leads in 22 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 Tavares done against each other?
- In 39 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 25–14. Pastrnak had 49 points (25 goals) and Tavares had 26 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pastrnak or Tavares?
- Against each other, Pastrnak has won 4 and Tavares 4 of their 8 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 →