Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Cirelli 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 Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 19 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.0, Luck Meter +50, High-danger chances 56.6%.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Power-play share 72.3%, Power-play time per game 3:23.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Barzal 27–19.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.69
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 | Cirelli | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.65 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 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: Cirelli 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.
Cirelli 5G 9A, 45 SOG · Barzal 6G 12A, 52 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 5–4 · neutral 10–6 · Cirelli's defensive zone 12–9 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
18:02 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–13
- 61.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.4
- 68.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-13 | TBL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-06 | TBL 0–2 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-02 | TBL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-01 | TBL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-30 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-24 | TBL 4–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-02-08 | TBL 2–6 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-29 | TBL 6–4 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-27 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-15 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-06-25 · PO | TBL 1–0 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-06-23 · PO | TBL 2–3 NYI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 24 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)
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 Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 19 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Barzal done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 13–11. Cirelli had 14 points (5 goals) and Barzal had 18 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Barzal?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 27 and Barzal 19 of their 46 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 →