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Who to start · 2025-26

John Tavares vs Ryan O'Reilly

John TavaresJohn TavaresMaple Leafs · CentrevsRyan O'ReillyRyan O'ReillyPredators · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.

Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.

This week Tavares has 1 game left; O'Reilly has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project O'Reilly for 2.0 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.

Ryan O'Reilly has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Tavares's biggest edges: Hits 74, Top skating speed 22.7, Hardest shot 88.5.

O'Reilly's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, Blocked shots 66, Scoring chances 53.3%.

Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads O'Reilly 63–52.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

John Tavares

1.80

fantasy points per game

Ryan O'Reilly

1.90

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Ryan O'Reilly has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromTavaresO'Reilly
Goals (+2)0.670.58
Assists (+1)0.490.57
Power-play points (+0.5)0.110.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.240.20
Hits (+0.1)0.090.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.220.38

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 O'Reilly

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.

TavaresO'Reilly
8Team record in 16 meetings8
15Points in those games13

Tavares 8G 7A, 48 SOG · O'Reilly 9G 4A, 36 SOG

63Faceoffs against each other52

Tavares's offensive zone 22–24 · neutral 24–14 · Tavares's defensive zone 17–14 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

1Shots blocked by the other0

Tavares blocked 1 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 0 of Tavares's.

4Goals set up by the other3

Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).

On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)

2:17 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side

Shot attempts
3–3
50.0%
Expected goals
0.2–0.2
54.4%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly
DateScoreTavaresO'Reilly
2025-12-20TOR 3–5 NSH1G 0A 2S0G 1A 3S
2025-10-14TOR 7–4 NSH1G 2A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-03-22TOR 2–5 NSH1G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-12-04TOR 3–2 NSH0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2023-12-09TOR 4–0 NSH0G 1A 6S0G 0A 5S
2023-10-28TOR 2–3 NSH0G 0A 4S2G 0A 2S
2022-12-27TOR 5–4 STL1G 0A 4S1G 0A 5S
2022-01-15TOR 6–5 STL1G 0A 6S2G 0A 3S
2022-02-19TOR 3–6 STL0G 1A 1S1G 0A 4S
2019-12-07TOR 5–2 STL0G 0A 2S0G 1A 1S
2019-10-07TOR 2–3 STL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2019-02-19TOR 2–3 STL0G 0A 3S1G 0A 4S

Latest 12 of 16 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.

TavaresO'Reilly

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to C
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts

Ryan O'Reilly

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to C
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start John Tavares or Ryan O'Reilly in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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 Ryan O'Reilly?
On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan O'Reilly leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Tavares and O'Reilly done against each other?
In 16 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 8–8. Tavares had 15 points (8 goals) and O'Reilly had 13 (9 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or O'Reilly?
Against each other, Tavares has won 63 and O'Reilly 52 of their 115 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 →