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Who to start · 2025-26

Erik Karlsson vs Vladislav Gavrikov

Erik KarlssonErik KarlssonPenguins · DefencevsVladislav GavrikovVladislav GavrikovRangers · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51.

Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Gavrikov had 35 in 82 games.

This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Gavrikov has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Karlsson for 1.3 ESPN points to Gavrikov's 1.0.

Erik Karlsson has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Karlsson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Plus/minus +8, 20+ mph bursts 153.

Gavrikov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 50, Blocked shots 104, Hits 50.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Erik Karlsson

1.96

fantasy points per game

Vladislav Gavrikov

1.51

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKarlssonGavrikov
Goals (+2)0.380.28
Assists (+1)0.700.21
Power-play points (+0.5)0.190.03
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.240.13
Hits (+0.1)0.030.07
Blocks (+0.5)0.430.78

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 Gavrikov

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

KarlssonGavrikov
7Team record in 12 meetings5
9Points in those games5

Karlsson 1G 8A, 30 SOG · Gavrikov 1G 4A, 14 SOG

0Hits on each other1
1Shots blocked by the other1

Karlsson blocked 1 of Gavrikov's shots; Gavrikov blocked 1 of Karlsson's.

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

23:43 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side

Shot attempts
17–15
53.1%
Expected goals
1.0–0.4
72.8%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Erik Karlsson and Vladislav Gavrikov
DateScoreKarlssonGavrikov
2026-02-28PIT 2–3 NYR0G 1A 3S0G 1A 3S
2026-01-31PIT 6–5 NYR0G 1A 3S1G 1A 1S
2025-10-11PIT 1–6 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-10-07PIT 3–0 NYR0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-20PIT 5–1 LAK0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-12-17PIT 3–2 LAK0G 1A 3S0G 2A 2S
2024-02-18PIT 1–2 LAK0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2023-11-09PIT 4–3 LAK0G 2A 1S0G 0A 1S
2023-01-21SJS 3–5 CBJ0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2021-12-05SJS 4–6 CBJ1G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2020-01-09SJS 3–1 CBJ0G 1A 5S0G 0A 2S
2020-01-04SJS 3–2 CBJ0G 1A 4S0G 0A 1S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

KarlssonGavrikov

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ PHI
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Vladislav Gavrikov

4games (1 left)

1.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.0 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Erik Karlsson or Vladislav Gavrikov 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 Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Gavrikov had 35 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, Erik Karlsson or Vladislav Gavrikov?
On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson 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 Karlsson and Gavrikov done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 7–5. Karlsson had 9 points (1 goals) and Gavrikov had 5 (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 →