Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Shayne Gostisbehere
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Shayne Gostisbehere's 1.93.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Gostisbehere had 50 in 55 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Gostisbehere has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Gostisbehere for 1.8 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 153, Top skating speed 23.7, On-ice PDO 1017.
Gostisbehere's biggest edges: Sequence xG 59.2%, Expected goals 59.4%, Offensive-zone start % 72.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Shayne Gostisbehere
1.93
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Gostisbehere |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.42 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.59 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.53 |
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 Gostisbehere
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 2G 10A, 37 SOG · Gostisbehere 3G 10A, 37 SOG
Karlsson blocked 0 of Gostisbehere's shots; Gostisbehere blocked 3 of Karlsson's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Gostisbehere |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-07 | PIT 1–5 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-18 | PIT 1–4 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-11 | PIT 6–5 DET | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-17 | PIT 6–3 DET | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-10-18 | PIT 3–6 DET | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-10 | SJS 4–2 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-12-13 | SJS 3–2 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-30 | SJS 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-20 | SJS 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-12-28 | SJS 8–7 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2019-12-28 | SJS 6–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-11-03 | SJS 4–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
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 Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Shayne Gostisbehere
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Shayne Gostisbehere 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 Shayne Gostisbehere's 1.93. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Gostisbehere had 50 in 55 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 Shayne Gostisbehere?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 17 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 Gostisbehere done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 11–5. Karlsson had 12 points (2 goals) and Gostisbehere had 13 (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 →