Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Corsi 57.6%, Plus/minus +57, Fenwick 56.0%.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.018, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Goals above expected +4.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.17
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.32 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.44 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: MacKinnon 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.
MacKinnon 31G 32A, 175 SOG · Tarasenko 10G 15A, 103 SOG
MacKinnon blocked 1 of Tarasenko's shots; Tarasenko blocked 2 of MacKinnon's.
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
17:39 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 29–18
- 61.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.8
- 51.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 · PO | COL 4–3 MIN | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-11 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-05-09 · PO | COL 1–5 MIN | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-05 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-05-03 · PO | COL 9–6 MIN | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 2A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-25 | COL 5–2 DET | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-07 | COL 2–1 DET | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-16 | COL 7–4 OTT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-21 | COL 6–4 OTT | 4G 1A 9S | 0G 1A 5S |
Latest 12 of 41 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.
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Vladimir Tarasenko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 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, Nathan MacKinnon or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have MacKinnon and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 41 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 27–14. MacKinnon had 63 points (31 goals) and Tarasenko had 25 (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 →