Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Connor McDavid
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; McDavid has 1 left. We project McDavid for 3.2 ESPN points to Matthews's 2.6.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Blocked shots 81, Hardest shot 88.3, Faceoff win % 59.7%.
McDavid's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.6, Corsi 54.2%, 20+ mph bursts 681.
Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads McDavid 59–40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.22 |
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 McDavid
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.
Matthews 12G 10A, 77 SOG · McDavid 9G 21A, 57 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 8–8 · neutral 36–15 · Matthews's defensive zone 15–17 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Matthews blocked 0 of McDavid's shots; McDavid blocked 1 of Matthews's.
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
22:50 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–24
- 44.2%
- Expected goals
- 1.7–0.9
- 65.4%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | TOR 5–2 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-13 | TOR 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-01 | TOR 4–3 EDM | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 9S |
| 2024-03-23 | TOR 6–3 EDM | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2024-01-16 | TOR 2–4 EDM | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-03-11 | TOR 7–4 EDM | 1G 1A 8S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2023-03-01 | TOR 2–5 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2021-12-14 | TOR 5–1 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-03-29 | TOR 2–3 EDM | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-03-27 | TOR 4–3 EDM | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2021-03-03 | TOR 6–1 EDM | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-01-30 | TOR 3–4 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 19 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)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
3.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA3.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; McDavid had 138 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 Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matthews and McDavid done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 12–7. Matthews had 22 points (12 goals) and McDavid had 30 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or McDavid?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 59 and McDavid 40 of their 99 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 →