Who to start · 2025-26
Alexandre Carrier vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexandre Carrier's 1.73.
Carrier had 22 points in 73 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Carrier has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Carrier's 1.2.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 26 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Carrier's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.6, Luck Meter +57, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.033.
Barzal's biggest edges: Power-play share 72.3%, Power-play time per game 3:23, Offensive-zone time 45.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexandre Carrier
1.58
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carrier | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.19 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.21 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.06 | 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: Carrier vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Carrier 1G 1A, 6 SOG · Barzal 1G 6A, 30 SOG
Carrier blocked 3 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Carrier's.
On the ice against each other (Carrier's side)
8:31 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Carrier's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–10
- 41.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.5
- 15.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carrier | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | MTL 7–3 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-02-26 | MTL 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-06 | NSH 0–2 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-13 | NSH 3–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-02 | NSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 9S |
| 2022-11-17 | NSH 5–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-12-09 | NSH 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-10-30 | NSH 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Alexandre Carrier
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.2 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
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 Alexandre Carrier or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexandre Carrier's 1.73. Carrier had 22 points in 73 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, Alexandre Carrier or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 26 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Carrier and Barzal done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Carrier's team went 6–2. Carrier had 2 points (1 goals) and Barzal had 7 (1 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 →