Who to start · 2025-26
Aleksander Barkov vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aleksander Barkov's 0.65 (2 games so far).
Barkov had 0 points in 2 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Barkov has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barkov for 2.3 ESPN points to MacKinnon's 2.2.
Head to head on the dot, Barkov leads MacKinnon 58–39.
- • Aleksander Barkov has no 2025-26 NHL games, so his numbers are this season's only.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aleksander Barkov
0.65
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barkov | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.00 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.00 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.50 | 0.21 |
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: Barkov vs MacKinnon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barkov 6G 10A, 34 SOG · MacKinnon 7G 7A, 40 SOG
Barkov's offensive zone 10–9 · neutral 35–22 · Barkov's defensive zone 13–8 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Barkov blocked 1 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Barkov's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barkov | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-06 | FLA 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-23 | FLA 4–7 COL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-10 | FLA 4–0 COL | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-06 | FLA 8–4 COL | 0G 4A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-11 | FLA 3–5 COL | 1G 0A 5S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-01-10 | FLA 5–4 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-21 | FLA 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-10-30 | FLA 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2019-10-18 | FLA 4–5 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2019-02-25 | FLA 4–3 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2018-12-06 | FLA 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2017-12-14 | FLA 1–2 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
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.
Aleksander Barkov
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aleksander Barkov or Nathan MacKinnon 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 Aleksander Barkov's 0.65 (2 games so far). Barkov had 0 points in 2 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- How have Barkov and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Barkov's team went 6–6. Barkov had 16 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 14 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barkov or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Barkov has won 58 and MacKinnon 39 of their 97 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 →