Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Makar for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Cale Makar has the better number in 26 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.69, Hardest shot 98.2, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35.
Barzal's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, Blocked shots 50, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.61
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.53 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.79 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.79 | 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: Makar vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Makar 1G 11A, 24 SOG · Barzal 2G 6A, 35 SOG
Makar blocked 2 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
10:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–8
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 51.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-04 | COL 3–6 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-11-16 | COL 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-28 | COL 2–5 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-14 | COL 2–6 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-02 | COL 5–4 NYI | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-24 | COL 7–4 NYI | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-12-19 | COL 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-29 | COL 4–5 NYI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2020-02-19 | COL 3–1 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2020-01-06 | COL 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Cale Makar
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Cale Makar or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Makar had 79 points in 75 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, Cale Makar or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 26 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Makar and Barzal done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 5–5. Makar had 12 points (1 goals) and Barzal had 8 (2 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 →