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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Emil Heineman

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emil Heineman's 1.57.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Heineman had 31 in 82 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; Heineman has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.6 ESPN points to Heineman's 1.5.

Auston Matthews has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, Transition attempts /60 2.09, On-ice PDO 1016.

Heineman's biggest edges: Hits 247, Top skating speed 23.5, Goals above expected +0.2.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Emil Heineman

1.57

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsHeineman
Goals (+2)0.790.63
Assists (+1)0.380.10
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.02
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.21
Hits (+0.1)0.070.30
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.31

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: Matthews vs Heineman

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MatthewsHeineman
1Team record in 3 meetings2
2Points in those games3

Matthews 2G 0A, 13 SOG · Heineman 2G 1A, 5 SOG

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

13:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Matthews's side

Shot attempts
9–12
42.9%
Expected goals
0.6–0.6
50.5%
Goals
2–1

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Emil Heineman
DateScoreMatthewsHeineman
2026-09-30TOR 2–1 NYI0G 0A 1S1G 0A 1S
2026-01-03TOR 3–4 NYI2G 0A 6S1G 1A 2S
2024-10-09TOR 0–1 MTL0G 0A 6S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

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

MatthewsHeineman

Fantasy box score

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
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts

Emil Heineman

2games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Schedule edge +9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.5 pts

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Emil Heineman 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 Emil Heineman's 1.57. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Heineman had 31 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 Emil Heineman?
On 2025-26 numbers, Auston Matthews leads in 23 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 Heineman done against each other?
In 3 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 1–2. Matthews had 2 points (2 goals) and Heineman had 3 (2 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 →