Who to start · 2025-26
Matthew Tkachuk vs Michael Bunting
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Tkachuk projects to 2.39 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Michael Bunting's 0.88.
Tkachuk had 34 points in 31 games; Bunting had 33 in 74 games.
This week Tkachuk has 3 games left with 1 soft matchup; Bunting has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Tkachuk for 7.6 to Bunting's 1.9 over the games left.
Matthew Tkachuk has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tkachuk's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, Penalty minutes 48, Sequence xG 52.9%.
Bunting's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.86, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.95, Top skating speed 22.5.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Matthew Tkachuk rates ahead, +9.6 to -3.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Tkachuk is rising, 11 P in last 5 (1.15/GP before); Bunting is steady, On-ice xGF/60 0.79 (was 1.84).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 3 G, 11 A, 7 PPP, 19 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Florida Panthers · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matthew Tkachuk
+9.6
category z-score total
Michael Bunting
-3.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Matthew Tkachuk has the edge (Tkachuk wins 6, Bunting wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | Tkachuk | Bunting |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.39 | 0.13 |
| Assists / game | 0.88 | 0.22 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.05 | -0.45 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.55 | 0.14 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.57 | 1.57 |
| Hits / game | 1.13 | 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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Tkachuk vs Bunting
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tkachuk 5G 9A, 48 SOG · Bunting 3G 2A, 28 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tkachuk | Bunting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-03 | FLA 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-03 | FLA 4–5 PIT | 2G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | FLA 0–1 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-10 | FLA 5–2 CAR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-05-12 · PO | FLA 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-05-10 · PO | FLA 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-05-07 · PO | FLA 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-05-04 · PO | FLA 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-05-02 · PO | FLA 4–2 TOR | 0G 3A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-10 | FLA 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-29 | FLA 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-23 | FLA 2–6 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 15 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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Matthew Tkachuk
3games
7.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT2.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI2.7 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Michael Bunting
3games (2 left)
1.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF0.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA0.9 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matthew Tkachuk or Michael Bunting in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Tkachuk projects to 2.39 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Michael Bunting's 0.88. Tkachuk had 34 points in 31 games; Bunting had 33 in 74 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, Matthew Tkachuk or Michael Bunting?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Matthew Tkachuk 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 Tkachuk and Bunting done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Tkachuk's team went 8–7. Tkachuk had 14 points (5 goals) and Bunting had 5 (3 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 →