Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Noah Cates has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Penalty minutes 44, Faceoffs won 467.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Goals above expected +4.0, Hardest shot 84.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.45
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vladimir Tarasenko has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.44 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 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: Cates vs Tarasenko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cates 3G 3A, 16 SOG · Tarasenko 5G 4A, 20 SOG
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
7:11 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–1
- 85.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 74.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | PHI 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-18 | PHI 2–1 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-21 | PHI 2–1 DET | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-18 | PHI 4–6 DET | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-12 | PHI 4–1 DET | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-24 | PHI 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-07 | PHI 2–1 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | PHI 4–2 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-21 | PHI 3–5 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-14 | PHI 2–5 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-03-01 | PHI 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2022-11-08 | PHI 5–1 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
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 Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 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, Noah Cates or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cates and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 7–5. Cates had 6 points (3 goals) and Tarasenko had 9 (5 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 →