Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vladimir Tarasenko projects to 1.52 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tarasenko for 1.2 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Corsi 56.0%, Fenwick 56.1%, Plus/minus +32.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.0, Luck Meter +35, On-ice PDO 1011.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.59
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mattias Ekholm has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.15 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.76 | 0.22 |
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: Ekholm vs Tarasenko
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.
Ekholm 2G 9A, 54 SOG · Tarasenko 10G 10A, 80 SOG
Ekholm blocked 3 of Tarasenko's shots; Tarasenko blocked 3 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
10:25 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–10
- 52.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–1.4
- 22.5%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | EDM 3–7 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-20 | EDM 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-02 | EDM 0–1 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-30 | EDM 2–3 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-27 | EDM 3–2 DET | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-06-24 · PO | EDM 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-06-21 · PO | EDM 5–1 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-06-18 · PO | EDM 5–3 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-06-15 · PO | EDM 8–1 FLA | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-06-13 · PO | EDM 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-06-10 · PO | EDM 1–4 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-06-08 · PO | EDM 0–3 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Vladimir Tarasenko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vladimir Tarasenko projects to 1.52 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 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, Mattias Ekholm or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekholm and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 12–15. Ekholm had 11 points (2 goals) and Tarasenko had 20 (10 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 →