Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivan Barbashev projects to 1.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Dvorak has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Dvorak's 1.1.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 629, 20+ mph bursts 199, Power-play share 47.9%.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.7, Fenwick 53.4%, Hits 137.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
1.42
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ivan Barbashev has the edge.
| Points per game from | Dvorak | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.20 |
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: Dvorak vs Barbashev
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.
Dvorak 9G 7A, 44 SOG · Barbashev 5G 8A, 25 SOG
Dvorak's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 2–3 · Dvorak's defensive zone 2–0 (2018-19 to 2020-21)
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
10:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–13
- 56.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–1.1
- 48.8%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | PHI 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-11 | PHI 2–3 VGK | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | MTL 2–6 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2023-11-16 | MTL 5–6 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-05 | MTL 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-07 | MTL 5–4 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-10-29 | MTL 7–4 STL | 3G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-04-17 | ARI 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-02-12 | ARI 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-02-08 | ARI 4–3 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-02-06 | ARI 3–1 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-02-15 | ARI 1–0 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Christian Dvorak
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to CLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.1 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Christian Dvorak or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivan Barbashev projects to 1.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42. Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 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, Christian Dvorak or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dvorak and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 12–8. Dvorak had 16 points (9 goals) and Barbashev had 13 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Dvorak or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Dvorak has won 5 and Barbashev 4 of their 9 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 →