Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; O'Reilly has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project O'Reilly for 2.0 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.7, 20+ mph bursts 153, Hardest shot 96.6.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Blocked shots 66, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.007, Shorthanded points 3.
- • 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
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.38 |
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 O'Reilly
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 6G 17A, 78 SOG · O'Reilly 5G 15A, 43 SOG
Karlsson blocked 0 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 4 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
15:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–13
- 40.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.5
- 46.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-16 | PIT 4–0 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-14 | PIT 1–2 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-01 | PIT 3–0 NSH | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-19 | PIT 5–4 NSH | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-15 | PIT 4–2 NSH | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-28 | PIT 2–3 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-11-10 | SJS 3–5 STL | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-18 | SJS 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2021-03-20 | SJS 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2021-03-19 | SJS 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-02-27 | SJS 6–7 STL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-03-08 | SJS 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
Latest 12 of 26 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)
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Ryan O'Reilly in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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 Ryan O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 20 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 O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 10–16. Karlsson had 23 points (6 goals) and O'Reilly had 20 (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 →