Who to start · 2025-26
Jake McCabe 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 Jake McCabe's 1.75.
McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week McCabe has 1 game left; Tavares has 1 left. We project McCabe for 1.8 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.8.
John Tavares has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McCabe's biggest edges: Blocked shots 190, Plus/minus +3, Transition attempts /60 0.45.
Tavares's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 43.2%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Offensive-zone start % 56.1%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake McCabe
1.75
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 | McCabe | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.19 | 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: McCabe vs Tavares
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McCabe 1G 2A, 16 SOG · Tavares 11G 8A, 42 SOG
McCabe blocked 4 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 3 of McCabe's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
382:59 at 5-on-5 over 81 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 329–390
- 45.8%
- Expected goals
- 17.1–19.2
- 47.1%
- Goals
- 17–19
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McCabe | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-19 | CHI 5–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-02-15 | CHI 2–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2021-12-11 | CHI 4–5 TOR | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2021-10-27 | CHI 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-16 | BUF 5–2 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-17 | BUF 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-11-30 | BUF 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2019-11-29 | BUF 6–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2019-03-02 | BUF 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2019-02-25 | BUF 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2017-12-27 | BUF 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2017-10-07 | BUF 3–6 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 4S |
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 McCabe
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake McCabe 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 Jake McCabe's 1.75. McCabe had 25 points in 80 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 McCabe or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McCabe and Tavares done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, McCabe's team went 3–9. McCabe had 3 points (1 goals) and Tavares had 19 (11 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 →