Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Brandon Hagel
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brandon Hagel's 2.15.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Hagel had 74 in 71 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Hagel has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Hagel's 1.8.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, Blocked shots 81, Power-play share 71.5%.
Hagel's biggest edges: Corsi 58.5%, Fenwick 57.9%, Scoring chances 58.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Hagel |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.25 |
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 Hagel
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.
Matthews 20G 21A, 140 SOG · Hagel 5G 18A, 54 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Matthews's defensive zone 2–1 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Matthews blocked 4 of Hagel's shots; Hagel blocked 0 of Matthews's.
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
19:01 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–31
- 34.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–1.2
- 40.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Hagel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TOR 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-02-25 | TOR 2–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-08 | TOR 2–0 TBL | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-09 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-20 | TOR 5–3 TBL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | TOR 5–3 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2024-10-21 | TOR 5–2 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-04-17 | TOR 4–6 TBL | 0G 0A 12S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-03 | TOR 1–4 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-11-06 | TOR 6–5 TBL | 2G 1A 6S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TOR 2–1 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
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)
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Hagel had 74 in 71 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 Brandon Hagel?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 22 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 Hagel done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 18–11. Matthews had 41 points (20 goals) and Hagel had 23 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Hagel?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 3 and Hagel 1 of their 4 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 →