Who to start · 2025-26
Vladimir Tarasenko vs Wyatt Johnston
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Tarasenko had 47 points in 75 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 games.
This week Tarasenko has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Johnston has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Johnston for 2.5 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Wyatt Johnston has the better number in 28 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Forecheck xG /60 0.28, Luck Meter +35.
Johnston's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 402, Penalty minutes 32, Offensive-zone start % 59.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Wyatt Johnston
2.51
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Wyatt Johnston has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tarasenko | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 1.10 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.26 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.34 |
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: Tarasenko vs Johnston
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.
Tarasenko 3G 4A, 26 SOG · Johnston 10G 7A, 41 SOG
Tarasenko's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Tarasenko's defensive zone 1–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Tarasenko's side)
25:43 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Tarasenko's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–35
- 40.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.9
- 58.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tarasenko | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-30 · PO | MIN 5–2 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | MIN 4–2 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | MIN 3–2 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | MIN 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | MIN 2–4 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | MIN 6–1 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-09 | MIN 4–5 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-21 | MIN 2–1 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-11 | MIN 5–2 DAL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-14 | MIN 2–5 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-14 | DET 6–4 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-19 | DET 1–4 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
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)
Wyatt Johnston
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.5 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Vladimir Tarasenko or Wyatt Johnston in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Tarasenko had 47 points in 75 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 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, Vladimir Tarasenko or Wyatt Johnston?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Wyatt Johnston leads in 28 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tarasenko and Johnston done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Tarasenko's team went 9–6. Tarasenko had 7 points (3 goals) and Johnston had 17 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tarasenko or Johnston?
- Against each other, Tarasenko has won 2 and Johnston 0 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 →