Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas 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 Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Protas has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Protas for 3.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Aliaksei Protas has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Transition attempts /60 1.46, Hardest shot 89.2.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Power-play share 72.3%, Power-play time per game 3:23.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.57
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 | Protas | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 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: Protas 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.
Protas 4G 4A, 15 SOG · Barzal 2G 1A, 17 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 1–0 · Protas's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Protas blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Protas's.
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
29:57 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 29–25
- 53.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–1.3
- 58.8%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-30 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-31 | WSH 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | WSH 4–2 NYI | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-29 | WSH 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-20 | WSH 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-11 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-02 | WSH 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-15 | WSH 2–0 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR1.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely 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 CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas 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 Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 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, Aliaksei Protas or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Aliaksei Protas leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Barzal done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 6–3. Protas had 8 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 3 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Barzal?
- Against each other, Protas has won 1 and Barzal 1 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 →