Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
John Tavares has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 43.2%, Offensive-zone start % 56.1%, Power-play share 69.1%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +9, Blocked shots 150, Ascension score 56.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.17 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.96 |
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: Tavares vs Matheson
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.
Tavares 14G 8A, 86 SOG · Matheson 6G 14A, 48 SOG
Tavares blocked 3 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 5 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
33:57 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–35
- 43.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–2.2
- 25.3%
- Goals
- 2–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | TOR 2–3 MTL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-10 | TOR 1–3 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-06 | TOR 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-22 | TOR 2–5 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-10-08 | TOR 5–2 MTL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-12 | TOR 1–0 MTL | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-09 | TOR 4–1 MTL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-09 | TOR 0–1 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-06 | TOR 4–2 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-03-09 | TOR 3–2 MTL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-11 | TOR 6–5 MTL | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-08 | TOR 7–1 MTL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
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)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Mike Matheson 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 Mike Matheson's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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, John Tavares or Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Matheson done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 13–14. Tavares had 22 points (14 goals) and Matheson had 20 (6 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 →