Who to start · 2025-26
Alexis Lafrenière 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 Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41.
Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Matthews had 53 in 60 games.
This week Lafrenière has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Matthews has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Lafrenière's 1.2.
Alexis Lafrenière has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lafrenière's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.8, Corsi 52.4%, High-danger chances 58.8%.
Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, Ascension score 44, Hardest shot 88.3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexis Lafrenière
1.41
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 | Lafrenière | Matthews |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.79 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.36 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Lafrenière vs Matthews
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.
Lafrenière 4G 6A, 20 SOG · Matthews 6G 6A, 57 SOG
Lafrenière's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Lafrenière's defensive zone 0–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Lafrenière blocked 0 of Matthews's shots; Matthews blocked 1 of Lafrenière's.
On the ice against each other (Lafrenière's side)
16:11 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lafrenière's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–14
- 48.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.7
- 42.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lafrenière | Matthews |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | NYR 6–2 TOR | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-16 | NYR 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-20 | NYR 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-28 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-19 | NYR 4–1 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 9S |
| 2024-03-02 | NYR 3–4 TOR | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-19 | NYR 5–2 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-12 | NYR 3–7 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 2A 3S |
| 2023-04-13 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-25 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-15 | NYR 3–1 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-01-19 | NYR 6–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Alexis Lafrenière
4games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alexis Lafrenière 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 Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41. Lafrenière had 57 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, Alexis Lafrenière or Auston Matthews?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alexis Lafrenière leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lafrenière and Matthews done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 6–8. Lafrenière had 10 points (4 goals) and Matthews had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lafrenière or Matthews?
- Against each other, Lafrenière has won 0 and Matthews 2 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 →