Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Tuch vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Tuch has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tuch for 2.4 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Alex Tuch has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Tuch's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.0, Transition attempts /60 1.44, Luck Meter +61.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Power-play share 72.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Tuch
2.26
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Tuch has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tuch | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 0.31 |
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 Barzal
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 4A, 37 SOG · Barzal 5G 9A, 46 SOG
Tuch blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Tuch's.
On the ice against each other (Tuch's side)
9:03 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tuch's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–8
- 52.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 62.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tuch | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | BUF 4–3 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-24 | BUF 5–0 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-20 | BUF 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-12-23 | BUF 7–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-14 | BUF 4–0 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-21 | BUF 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-14 | BUF 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-19 | BUF 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-23 | BUF 5–3 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-30 | BUF 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 8S |
| 2022-02-15 | BUF 6–3 NYI | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-12-05 | VGK 2–3 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Tuch or Mathew Barzal 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 Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 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 Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex Tuch leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tuch and Barzal done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Tuch's team went 11–5. Tuch had 9 points (5 goals) and Barzal had 14 (5 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 →