Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Rantanen has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.6 ESPN points to Rantanen's 2.3.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.09, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.22, Blocked shots 81.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Luck Meter +45, Penalty minutes 93, Top skating speed 22.8.
Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads Rantanen 6–6.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| 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 Rantanen
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 9G 6A, 52 SOG · Rantanen 5G 10A, 27 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–2 · Matthews's defensive zone 5–4 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Matthews blocked 1 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 0 of Matthews's.
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
3:03 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–2
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 51.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | TOR 1–5 DAL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-22 | TOR 6–3 CAR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-24 | TOR 4–3 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-13 | TOR 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-15 | TOR 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-12-31 | TOR 6–2 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-08 | TOR 4–5 COL | 2G 0A 8S | 0G 4A 4S |
| 2021-12-01 | TOR 8–3 COL | 3G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-12-04 | TOR 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-02-12 | TOR 5–2 COL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-01-14 | TOR 3–6 COL | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-01-22 | TOR 2–4 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 13 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 NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.3 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Mikko Rantanen 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 Mikko Rantanen's 2.21. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 20 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 Rantanen done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 5–8. Matthews had 15 points (9 goals) and Rantanen had 15 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 6 and Rantanen 6 of their 12 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 →