Who to start · 2025-26
Chris Kreider 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 Chris Kreider's 1.42.
Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Kreider has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Kreider's 1.0.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Kreider's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.2%, Hits 69, Transition attempts /60 1.16.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Plus/minus +10, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chris Kreider
1.49
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 | Kreider | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.13 | 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: Kreider 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.
Kreider 13G 5A, 82 SOG · Barzal 6G 20A, 65 SOG
Kreider's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Kreider's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18)
Kreider blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Kreider's.
On the ice against each other (Kreider's side)
14:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kreider's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–14
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.5
- 59.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kreider | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | ANA 5–1 NYI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-11 | ANA 2–5 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | NYR 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-09 | NYR 2–4 NYI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-03-17 | NYR 5–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-18 | NYR 6–5 NYI | 1G 0A 8S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-22 | NYR 5–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-08 | NYR 3–4 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-10-26 | NYR 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-21 | NYR 6–3 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-01 | NYR 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-17 | NYR 1–2 NYI | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Chris Kreider
2games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.0 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to LW
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chris Kreider 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 Chris Kreider's 1.42. Kreider had 50 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, Chris Kreider or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kreider and Barzal done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Kreider's team went 14–15. Kreider had 18 points (13 goals) and Barzal had 26 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kreider or Barzal?
- Against each other, Kreider has won 0 and Barzal 1 of their 1 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 →