Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Auston Matthews
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex DeBrincat's 2.20.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Matthews had 53 in 60 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left; Matthews has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.6 ESPN points to DeBrincat's 2.3.
Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Fenwick 53.8%, Corsi 51.2%.
Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Blocked shots 81.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Matthews |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.79 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.36 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.63 |
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: DeBrincat vs Matthews
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.
DeBrincat 6G 10A, 60 SOG · Matthews 8G 14A, 101 SOG
DeBrincat's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 0–1 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19 to 2023-24)
DeBrincat blocked 1 of Matthews's shots; Matthews blocked 0 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
13:49 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–11
- 62.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.5
- 36.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Matthews |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-21 | DET 2–1 TOR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-28 | DET 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-13 | DET 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2025-10-11 | DET 6–3 TOR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-04-17 | DET 3–4 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | DET 4–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-13 | DET 5–4 TOR | 2G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 10S |
| 2024-01-14 | DET 4–2 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-17 | DET 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-04-01 | OTT 0–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-18 | OTT 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-10-15 | OTT 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYRSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 pts
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Auston Matthews in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex DeBrincat's 2.20. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Matthews had 53 in 60 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, Alex DeBrincat or Auston Matthews?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Matthews done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 10–10. DeBrincat had 16 points (6 goals) and Matthews had 22 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Matthews?
- Against each other, DeBrincat has won 1 and Matthews 3 of their 4 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 →