Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left; Tavares has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.5.
John Tavares has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, High-danger chances 57.9%, Expected goals 57.3%.
Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Faceoffs won 801, Power-play share 69.1%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Barbashev vs Tavares
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.
Barbashev 3G 7A, 17 SOG · Tavares 5G 5A, 34 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Barbashev's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
7:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–8
- 38.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 51.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | VGK 6–3 TOR | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-15 | VGK 6–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-05 | VGK 5–2 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-20 | VGK 0–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-27 | VGK 6–2 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | VGK 3–7 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-03 | STL 6–5 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-27 | STL 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-15 | STL 5–6 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-02-19 | STL 6–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-12-07 | STL 2–5 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-10-07 | STL 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 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, Ivan Barbashev or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares 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 Barbashev and Tavares done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 10–5. Barbashev had 10 points (3 goals) and Tavares had 10 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Tavares?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 0 and Tavares 1 of their 1 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 →