Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Guentzel vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Guentzel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Guentzel's 1.5.
Jake Guentzel has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Scoring chances 56.2%, High-danger chances 55.6%.
Tavares's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Faceoff win % 57.5%, Hardest shot 88.5.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Guentzel 13–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Guentzel
2.21
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Guentzel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Guentzel | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 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: Guentzel 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.
Guentzel 6G 7A, 64 SOG · Tavares 6G 9A, 69 SOG
Guentzel's offensive zone 2–5 · neutral 2–4 · Guentzel's defensive zone 1–4 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Guentzel blocked 1 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 2 of Guentzel's.
On the ice against each other (Guentzel's side)
12:03 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Guentzel's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–8
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 58.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Guentzel | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TBL 5–2 TOR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-25 | TBL 4–2 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-08 | TBL 0–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-30 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-21 | TBL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-24 | CAR 2–1 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | CAR 5–4 TOR | 0G 2A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-16 | PIT 0–7 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 9S |
| 2023-11-25 | PIT 3–2 TOR | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-11-26 | PIT 1–4 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-15 | PIT 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-11 | PIT 4–2 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
Jake Guentzel
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Jake Guentzel or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Guentzel had 88 points in 81 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, Jake Guentzel or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Guentzel leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Guentzel and Tavares done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Guentzel's team went 13–10. Guentzel had 13 points (6 goals) and Tavares had 15 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Guentzel or Tavares?
- Against each other, Guentzel has won 5 and Tavares 13 of their 18 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 →