Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Matheson for 1.3 ESPN points to Burns's 1.2.
Brent Burns has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: High-danger chances 56.1%, Corsi 55.6%, Fenwick 55.1%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.035, Ice-time share 39.6%, Ice time per game 24:10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.17 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 0.96 |
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: Burns vs Matheson
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.
Burns 2G 10A, 57 SOG · Matheson 3G 1A, 30 SOG
Burns blocked 1 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 3 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
10:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–12
- 47.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.0
- 35.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | COL 3–7 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-29 | COL 7–2 MTL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-16 | CAR 2–4 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-28 | CAR 4–1 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-25 | CAR 0–4 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-30 | CAR 3–0 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-07 | CAR 4–1 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-28 | CAR 5–3 MTL | 0G 3A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-01 | CAR 3–0 MTL | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-07 | CAR 4–3 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-16 | CAR 6–2 MTL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-15 | SJS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.2 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Mike Matheson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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, Brent Burns or Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brent Burns leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and Matheson done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 9–10. Burns had 12 points (2 goals) and Matheson had 4 (3 goals).
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 →