Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Demidov 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 Demidov's 1.38.
Demidov had 62 points in 82 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Demidov has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Demidov's 1.2.
Ivan Demidov has the better number in 16 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Demidov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +3, On-ice PDO 1042, Offensive-zone start % 71.3%.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 801, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Demidov
1.38
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 | Demidov | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.43 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Demidov vs Tavares
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Demidov 0G 4A, 5 SOG · Tavares 0G 3A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Demidov's side)
22:14 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Demidov's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–19
- 56.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.6–1.0
- 61.0%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Demidov | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | MTL 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-10 | MTL 3–1 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-06 | MTL 2–1 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-22 | MTL 5–2 TOR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-08 | MTL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
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 Demidov
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.2 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Demidov 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 Demidov's 1.38. Demidov had 62 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 Demidov or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Demidov leads in 16 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Demidov and Tavares done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Demidov's team went 4–1. Demidov had 4 points (0 goals) and Tavares had 3 (0 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 →