Who to start · 2025-26
Vasily Podkolzin vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Podkolzin had 37 points in 82 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Podkolzin has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Podkolzin for 1.3 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Vasily Podkolzin has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 63, Corsi 53.4%, Plus/minus +16.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Power-play time per game 2:13, Transition attempts /60 1.12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Vasily Podkolzin
1.48
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 | Podkolzin | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.46 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.32 | 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: Podkolzin vs Tarasenko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Podkolzin 0G 1A, 8 SOG · Tarasenko 4G 5A, 19 SOG
On the ice against each other (Podkolzin's side)
7:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Podkolzin's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–8
- 27.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 24.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Podkolzin | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | EDM 3–7 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-20 | EDM 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-02 | EDM 0–1 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-30 | EDM 2–3 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-27 | EDM 3–2 DET | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-15 | VAN 4–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-30 | VAN 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-28 | VAN 1–4 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2022-01-23 | VAN 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
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.
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely 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 Vasily Podkolzin or Vladimir Tarasenko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Podkolzin had 37 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, Vasily Podkolzin or Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Vasily Podkolzin leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Podkolzin and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Podkolzin's team went 1–8. Podkolzin had 1 points (0 goals) and Tarasenko had 9 (4 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 →