Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Matthews had 53 in 60 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Matthews has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.0, Corsi 56.1%, Luck Meter +50.
Matthews's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.09, Faceoff win % 59.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.103.
Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads Cirelli 107–86.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
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 | Cirelli | Matthews |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.79 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.36 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 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: Cirelli vs Matthews
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 6G 12A, 66 SOG · Matthews 22G 22A, 151 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 26–35 · neutral 40–38 · Cirelli's defensive zone 20–34 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 6 of Matthews's shots; Matthews blocked 3 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
14:40 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–12
- 67.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.5
- 70.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Matthews |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TBL 5–2 TOR | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-08 | TBL 0–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2025-04-09 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2025-01-20 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-11-30 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-10-21 | TBL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-04-03 | TBL 4–1 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-11-06 | TBL 5–6 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-10-21 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TBL 4–2 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | TBL 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 7S |
Latest 12 of 33 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or Auston Matthews?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Matthews done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 13–20. Cirelli had 18 points (6 goals) and Matthews had 44 (22 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Matthews?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 86 and Matthews 107 of their 193 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 →