Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Tuch vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Tuch has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Tuch for 2.4 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Alex Tuch has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tuch's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 57, Transition attempts /60 1.44, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.007.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Offensive-zone time 42.5%, Expected goals 57.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Tuch
2.42
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Tuch has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tuch | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.03 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 0.20 |
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: Tuch vs Barbashev
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.
Tuch 5G 10A, 52 SOG · Barbashev 4G 8A, 24 SOG
Tuch's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–0 · Tuch's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19 to 2022-23)
On the ice against each other (Tuch's side)
7:15 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tuch's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–5
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 21.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tuch | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | BUF 3–2 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-15 | BUF 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-02 | BUF 7–2 VGK | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-15 | BUF 5–2 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-24 | BUF 5–3 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-23 | BUF 6–2 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-04-14 | BUF 2–6 STL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-25 | BUF 3–5 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2021-05-08 | VGK 4–1 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-05-07 | VGK 4–3 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-04-07 | VGK 1–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-04-05 | VGK 6–1 STL | 0G 1A 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.
Alex Tuch
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B2.4 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Tuch or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Barbashev had 61 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, Alex Tuch or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex Tuch leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tuch and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Tuch's team went 13–8. Tuch had 15 points (5 goals) and Barbashev had 12 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tuch or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Tuch has won 2 and Barbashev 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 →