Who to start · 2025-26
Brady Tkachuk vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Tkachuk has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tkachuk for 2.3 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Brady Tkachuk has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Tkachuk's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.101, Transition attempts /60 2.80, Faceoff win % 57.6%.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Blocked shots 50, On-ice PDO 1006.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brady Tkachuk
2.32
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brady Tkachuk has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tkachuk | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.62 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Tkachuk vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tkachuk 7G 5A, 67 SOG · Barzal 5G 11A, 42 SOG
Tkachuk's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Tkachuk's defensive zone 1–1 (2019-20 to 2022-23)
Tkachuk blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 2 of Tkachuk's.
On the ice against each other (Tkachuk's side)
6:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tkachuk's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–4
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 64.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tkachuk | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | OTT 3–0 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-19 | OTT 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-14 | OTT 2–0 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | OTT 4–3 NYI | 3G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-24 | OTT 3–5 NYI | 0G 1A 7S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | OTT 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-14 | OTT 3–2 NYI | 1G 1A 9S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2023-01-25 | OTT 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-14 | OTT 2–4 NYI | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-03-22 | OTT 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-01 | OTT 1–4 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-07 | OTT 3–5 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
Brady Tkachuk
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
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 Brady Tkachuk or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 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, Brady Tkachuk or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brady Tkachuk leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tkachuk and Barzal done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Tkachuk's team went 7–11. Tkachuk had 12 points (7 goals) and Barzal had 16 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tkachuk or Barzal?
- Against each other, Tkachuk has won 2 and Barzal 1 of their 3 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 →