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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Kirill Marchenko

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Kirill Marchenko's 1.92.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Marchenko had 67 in 76 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; Marchenko has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Marchenko's 1.8.

Kirill Marchenko has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, Blocked shots 81, Forecheck xG /60 0.31.

Marchenko's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 301, Top skating speed 23.4, Corsi 52.4%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Kirill Marchenko

1.92

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsMarchenko
Goals (+2)0.790.63
Assists (+1)0.380.52
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.13
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.29
Hits (+0.1)0.070.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.23

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 Marchenko

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MatthewsMarchenko
3Team record in 8 meetings5
12Points in those games4

Matthews 8G 4A, 41 SOG · Marchenko 1G 3A, 23 SOG

4Faceoffs against each other2

Matthews's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 3–0 · Matthews's defensive zone 1–2 (2023-24 to 2024-25)

1Shots blocked by the other0

Matthews blocked 1 of Marchenko's shots; Marchenko blocked 0 of Matthews's.

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

9:32 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side

Shot attempts
16–4
80.0%
Expected goals
0.3–0.2
59.6%
Goals
0–0

On the ice together

24:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2026-27

Shot attempts
25–14
64.1%
Expected goals
1.4–0.3
82.6%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Kirill Marchenko
DateScoreMatthewsMarchenko
2025-10-29TOR 3–6 CBJ0G 0A 5S0G 1A 1S
2025-04-05TOR 5–0 CBJ1G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S
2025-01-22TOR 1–5 CBJ1G 0A 6S0G 1A 1S
2024-10-22TOR 2–6 CBJ0G 0A 2S1G 1A 7S
2023-12-29TOR 5–6 CBJ1G 1A 4S0G 0A 1S
2023-12-23TOR 4–1 CBJ2G 1A 5S0G 0A 4S
2023-12-14TOR 5–6 CBJ2G 1A 9S0G 0A 3S
2023-04-04TOR 4–2 CBJ1G 0A 6S0G 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.

MatthewsMarchenko

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)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts

Kirill Marchenko

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Kirill Marchenko 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 Kirill Marchenko's 1.92. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Marchenko had 67 in 76 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 Kirill Marchenko?
On 2025-26 numbers, Kirill Marchenko leads in 24 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 Marchenko done against each other?
In 8 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 3–5. Matthews had 12 points (8 goals) and Marchenko had 4 (1 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Marchenko?
Against each other, Matthews has won 4 and Marchenko 2 of their 6 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 →