Who to start · 2025-26
Bo Horvat vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bo Horvat projects to 2.07 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Horvat had 57 points in 68 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Horvat has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Horvat for 1.5 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Bo Horvat has the better number in 21 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Horvat's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 56.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Hardest shot 93.4.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 62.4%, Assists 53, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.02.
Head to head on the dot, Horvat leads Barzal 10–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bo Horvat
2.11
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bo Horvat has the edge.
| Points per game from | Horvat | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.91 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 0.31 |
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: Horvat vs Barzal
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.
Horvat 4G 2A, 17 SOG · Barzal 2G 10A, 26 SOG
Horvat's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 7–2 · Horvat's defensive zone 2–4 (2017-18 to 2019-20)
Horvat blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Horvat's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
283:42 at 5-on-5 over 30 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 345–276
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 17.1–13.2
- 56.5%
- Goals
- 17–15
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Horvat | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-03 | VAN 2–6 NYI | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2022-02-09 | VAN 3–6 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2020-03-10 | VAN 5–4 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2020-02-01 | VAN 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2019-02-23 | VAN 0–4 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-11-13 | VAN 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2018-03-05 | VAN 4–3 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2017-11-28 | VAN 2–5 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 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.
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.
Bo Horvat
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.5 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bo Horvat or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bo Horvat projects to 2.07 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Horvat had 57 points in 68 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 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, Bo Horvat or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bo Horvat leads in 21 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Horvat and Barzal done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Horvat's team went 3–5. Horvat had 6 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 12 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Horvat or Barzal?
- Against each other, Horvat has won 10 and Barzal 7 of their 17 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 →