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Who to start · 2025-26

Auston Matthews vs Nathan MacKinnon

Auston MatthewsAuston MatthewsMaple Leafs · CentrevsNathan MacKinnonNathan MacKinnonAvalanche · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31.

Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.

This week Matthews has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to MacKinnon's 2.2.

Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Matthews's biggest edges: Blocked shots 81, Faceoff win % 59.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.103.

MacKinnon's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.3, Corsi 57.6%, Luck Meter +52.

Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads MacKinnon 70–53.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Auston Matthews

2.31

fantasy points per game

Nathan MacKinnon

3.32

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMatthewsMacKinnon
Goals (+2)0.791.49
Assists (+1)0.380.87
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.360.46
Hits (+0.1)0.070.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.21

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 MacKinnon

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.

MatthewsMacKinnon
7Team record in 16 meetings9
22Points in those games22

Matthews 11G 11A, 67 SOG · MacKinnon 7G 15A, 64 SOG

70Faceoffs against each other53

Matthews's offensive zone 16–17 · neutral 35–19 · Matthews's defensive zone 19–17 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

2Shots blocked by the other2

Matthews blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 2 of Matthews's.

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

18:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side

Shot attempts
17–20
45.9%
Expected goals
0.6–1.1
36.0%
Goals
0–2

Games against each other

Games between Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon
DateScoreMatthewsMacKinnon
2026-01-25TOR 1–4 COL0G 0A 7S0G 1A 2S
2026-01-12TOR 4–3 COL1G 1A 2S0G 3A 3S
2025-03-19TOR 2–1 COL1G 0A 8S0G 1A 6S
2025-03-08TOR 4–7 COL0G 3A 2S2G 0A 3S
2024-02-24TOR 4–3 COL0G 1A 4S0G 3A 2S
2024-01-13TOR 3–5 COL0G 0A 1S1G 1A 5S
2023-03-15TOR 1–2 COL0G 0A 5S0G 1A 2S
2022-12-31TOR 6–2 COL1G 1A 1S0G 0A 3S
2022-01-08TOR 4–5 COL2G 0A 8S1G 0A 12S
2021-12-01TOR 8–3 COL3G 0A 8S0G 2A 5S
2019-12-04TOR 1–3 COL0G 0A 5S1G 1A 2S
2019-11-23TOR 5–3 COL1G 1A 2S1G 0A 4S

Latest 12 of 16 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.

MatthewsMacKinnon

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
    vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Nathan MacKinnon

2games (1 left)

2.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Auston Matthews or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
In 16 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 7–9. Matthews had 22 points (11 goals) and MacKinnon had 22 (7 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or MacKinnon?
Against each other, Matthews has won 70 and MacKinnon 53 of their 123 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 →