Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 23 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.036, Faceoff win % 52.1%, Goals above expected +2.9.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Fenwick 51.7%, Corsi 51.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads Barzal 20–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.42
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.35 | 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: Stephenson 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.
Stephenson 0G 6A, 15 SOG · Barzal 3G 4A, 37 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 7–1 · neutral 4–1 · Stephenson's defensive zone 9–4 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
11:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–17
- 43.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.8
- 44.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-21 | SEA 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-23 | SEA 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-01-23 | VGK 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-06 | VGK 5–2 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-28 | VGK 1–2 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-12-17 | VGK 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-10-24 | VGK 0–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2020-02-15 | VGK 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-05 | VGK 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-04 | WSH 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-04-06 | WSH 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-01-18 | WSH 0–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
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.
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.
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
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 Chandler Stephenson or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 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, Chandler Stephenson or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 23 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Stephenson and Barzal done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 8–8. Stephenson had 6 points (0 goals) and Barzal had 7 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or Barzal?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 20 and Barzal 6 of their 26 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 →