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Who to start · 2025-26

Elias Lindholm vs John Carlson

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78.

Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.

This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Carlson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Carlson for 1.6 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.

John Carlson has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Lindholm's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.043, Blocked shots 59, Penalty minutes 38.

Carlson's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.5, Fenwick 54.3%, Corsi 54.5%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Elias Lindholm

1.78

fantasy points per game

John Carlson

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromLindholmCarlson
Goals (+2)0.550.37
Assists (+1)0.460.61
Power-play points (+0.5)0.130.09
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.180.23
Hits (+0.1)0.060.04
Blocks (+0.5)0.410.76

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: Lindholm 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.

LindholmCarlson
7Team record in 18 meetings11
15Points in those games9

Lindholm 13G 2A, 46 SOG · Carlson 3G 6A, 41 SOG

2Hits on each other3
2Shots blocked by the other2

Lindholm blocked 2 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 2 of Lindholm's.

On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)

9:22 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side

Shot attempts
9–17
34.6%
Expected goals
0.1–0.7
17.3%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Elias Lindholm and John Carlson
DateScoreLindholmCarlson
2025-10-08BOS 3–1 WSH1G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2025-04-01BOS 3–4 WSH0G 0A 1S0G 1A 7S
2024-12-31BOS 1–3 WSH0G 0A 2S0G 1A 0S
2024-12-23BOS 4–1 WSH1G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2024-03-16VAN 1–2 WSH0G 0A 0S0G 1A 5S
2024-02-11VAN 3–2 WSH0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2023-10-16CGY 2–3 WSH0G 0A 3S0G 1A 2S
2022-12-03CGY 5–2 WSH1G 0A 4S1G 0A 3S
2022-11-25CGY 0–3 WSH0G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2022-03-08CGY 4–5 WSH2G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2021-10-23CGY 4–3 WSH3G 0A 7S0G 0A 0S
2019-11-03CGY 2–4 WSH1G 0A 3S0G 0A 6S

Latest 12 of 18 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.

LindholmCarlson

Fantasy box score

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.

Elias Lindholm

3games (1 left)

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 pts
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)

John Carlson

2games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

FAQ

Should I start Elias Lindholm or John Carlson in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 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, Elias Lindholm or John Carlson?
On 2025-26 numbers, John Carlson leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Lindholm and Carlson done against each other?
In 18 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 7–11. Lindholm had 15 points (13 goals) and Carlson had 9 (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 →