Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Stamkos has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Stamkos's 1.6.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.18, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Luck Meter +10.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.8, Scoring chances 52.7%, High-danger chances 53.8%.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Stamkos 54–51.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
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 Stamkos
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.
Tavares 17G 20A, 102 SOG · Stamkos 10G 27A, 103 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 27–25 · neutral 10–8 · Tavares's defensive zone 17–18 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Tavares blocked 2 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 1 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
4:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–5
- 54.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 79.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-20 | TOR 3–5 NSH | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-10-14 | TOR 7–4 NSH | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-22 | TOR 2–5 NSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-04 | TOR 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-17 | TOR 4–6 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-04-03 | TOR 1–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-06 | TOR 6–5 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TOR 2–1 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TOR 2–4 TBL | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | TOR 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-22 · PO | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 37 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 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL1.6 ptsSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 25 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 18–19. Tavares had 37 points (17 goals) and Stamkos had 37 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 54 and Stamkos 51 of their 105 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 →