Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Mantha vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Mantha projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Mantha has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Mantha's 1.4.
Anthony Mantha has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Mantha's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 43, Ascension score 47, Hardest shot 96.0.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Sequence xG 57.2%, Expected goals 57.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Mantha
1.67
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Mantha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Mantha | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.20 |
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: Mantha vs Barbashev
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.
Mantha 0G 4A, 15 SOG · Barbashev 3G 3A, 8 SOG
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Mantha's side)
5:25 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Mantha's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 54.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Mantha | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | PIT 2–6 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-01 | PIT 5–0 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-28 | CGY 0–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-02 | WSH 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-11-17 | WSH 4–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-03-22 | WSH 2–5 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-10-27 | DET 4–5 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-03-21 | DET 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2018-11-28 | DET 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-02-28 | DET 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 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.
Anthony Mantha
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.4 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Mantha or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Mantha projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 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 Mantha or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Mantha leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Mantha and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Mantha's team went 2–8. Mantha had 4 points (0 goals) and Barbashev had 6 (3 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 →