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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Bowen Byram

Auston MatthewsAuston MatthewsMaple Leafs · CentrevsBowen ByramBowen ByramBlackhawks · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Byram had 42 in 82 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; Byram has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Byram's 2.0.

Bowen Byram has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Blocked shots 81, Transition attempts /60 2.09.

Byram's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.9, 20+ mph bursts 107, Ascension score 59.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Bowen Byram

1.37

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsByram
Goals (+2)0.790.24
Assists (+1)0.380.33
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.04
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.12
Hits (+0.1)0.070.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.59

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: Matthews vs Byram

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.

MatthewsByram
7Team record in 11 meetings4
16Points in those games4

Matthews 10G 6A, 55 SOG · Byram 1G 3A, 15 SOG

3Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other2

Matthews blocked 0 of Byram's shots; Byram blocked 2 of Matthews's.

On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)

17:27 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side

Shot attempts
23–19
54.8%
Expected goals
1.0–1.0
50.3%
Goals
2–0

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Bowen Byram
DateScoreMatthewsByram
2026-01-27TOR 4–7 BUF1G 2A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-25TOR 4–3 BUF0G 1A 2S1G 0A 2S
2025-10-24TOR 3–5 BUF1G 0A 4S0G 1A 1S
2025-04-15TOR 4–0 BUF1G 1A 6S0G 0A 0S
2024-12-20TOR 6–3 BUF1G 0A 5S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-15TOR 5–3 BUF0G 1A 5S0G 1A 3S
2024-03-30TOR 3–0 BUF1G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2024-02-24TOR 4–3 COL0G 1A 4S0G 1A 1S
2023-03-15TOR 1–2 COL0G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2022-01-08TOR 4–5 COL2G 0A 8S0G 0A 2S
2021-12-01TOR 8–3 COL3G 0A 8S0G 0A 4S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MatthewsByram

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Auston Matthews

3games (1 left)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
    Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Bowen Byram

3games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 pts
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Bowen Byram 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 Bowen Byram's 1.37. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Byram had 42 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, Auston Matthews or Bowen Byram?
On 2025-26 numbers, Bowen Byram 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 Matthews and Byram done against each other?
In 11 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 7–4. Matthews had 16 points (10 goals) and Byram had 4 (1 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 →