Who to start · 2025-26
Steven Stamkos vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Stamkos had 66 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Stamkos has 1 game left; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Stamkos for 1.6 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 58, Hardest shot 95.0, Top skating speed 23.0.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Luck Meter +30, Transition attempts /60 1.12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Steven Stamkos
2.05
fantasy points per game
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stamkos | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.02 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 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: Stamkos 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.
Stamkos 13G 12A, 71 SOG · Tarasenko 6G 6A, 46 SOG
Stamkos's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–1 · Stamkos's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Stamkos blocked 2 of Tarasenko's shots; Tarasenko blocked 0 of Stamkos's.
On the ice against each other (Stamkos's side)
12:48 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Stamkos's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–12
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.5
- 66.5%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stamkos | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | NSH 2–1 MIN | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-04 | NSH 5–6 MIN | 1G 2A 6S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-23 | NSH 3–2 MIN | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-04 | NSH 2–3 MIN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-19 | NSH 2–5 DET | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-12 | NSH 0–3 DET | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | TBL 6–3 FLA | 2G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-25 · PO | TBL 3–5 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | TBL 2–3 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-21 · PO | TBL 2–3 FLA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | TBL 5–3 FLA | 2G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
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)
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 Steven Stamkos or Vladimir Tarasenko 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 Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Stamkos had 66 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, Steven Stamkos or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Stamkos and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Stamkos's team went 9–12. Stamkos had 25 points (13 goals) and Tarasenko had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stamkos or Tarasenko?
- Against each other, Stamkos has won 1 and Tarasenko 1 of their 2 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 →