Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Carlson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Carlson for 1.6 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 153, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.083.
Carlson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 106, Ascension score 53, Transition attempts /60 0.96.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.37 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.61 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 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: Karlsson 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.
Karlsson 2G 8A, 33 SOG · Carlson 1G 9A, 33 SOG
Karlsson blocked 1 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 10 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
3:23 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–3
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Carlson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | PIT 5–3 WSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-22 | PIT 3–8 WSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-18 | PIT 1–4 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-08 | PIT 4–2 WSH | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-04 | PIT 4–1 WSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2024-03-07 | PIT 0–6 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-02 | PIT 3–4 WSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-13 | PIT 4–0 WSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-11-20 | SJS 0–4 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2020-01-05 | SJS 4–5 WSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-12-03 | SJS 2–5 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2018-02-27 | OTT 2–3 WSH | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 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, Erik Karlsson or John Carlson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Karlsson and Carlson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 4–9. Karlsson had 10 points (2 goals) and Carlson had 10 (1 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 →