Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left; Tavares has 1 left. We project Pettersson for 4.1 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.8.
John Tavares has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 108, Ascension score 57, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60.
Tavares's biggest edges: Luck Meter +12, Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Pettersson 18–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 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: Pettersson vs Tavares
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pettersson 3G 9A, 28 SOG · Tavares 6G 8A, 51 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 4–3 · neutral 4–5 · Pettersson's defensive zone 2–10 (2020-21 to 2025-26)
Pettersson blocked 3 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 0 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
9:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–13
- 27.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.8
- 17.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | VAN 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-10 | VAN 0–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-08 | VAN 2–1 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | VAN 3–0 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-20 | VAN 6–4 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-11-11 | VAN 2–5 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-04 | VAN 4–1 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-11-12 | VAN 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-05 | VAN 6–4 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2022-02-12 | VAN 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-02-08 | VAN 1–3 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-02-06 | VAN 1–5 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDM
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDM
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B2.0 pts
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 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, Elias Pettersson or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Tavares done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 7–9. Pettersson had 12 points (3 goals) and Tavares had 14 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Tavares?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 10 and Tavares 18 of their 28 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 →