Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
John Tavares has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Ice time per game 18:11, Ice-time share 29.8%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Transition attempts /60 0.77, Scoring chances 61.1%.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.64 |
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 Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 2G 1A, 9 SOG · Malinski 0G 2A, 14 SOG
Tavares blocked 1 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 0 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
9:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–7
- 63.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 54.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | TOR 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-12 | TOR 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-19 | TOR 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-08 | TOR 4–7 COL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-01-13 | TOR 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Sam Malinski 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 Sam Malinski's 1.44. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Malinski had 40 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, John Tavares or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 17 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 Malinski done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 2–3. Tavares had 3 points (2 goals) and Malinski had 2 (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 →