Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak 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 Christian Dvorak's 1.42.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Dvorak has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Dvorak's 1.1.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 22 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 54.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.056, Shorthanded points 2.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Fenwick 51.7%, Corsi 51.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Dvorak leads Barzal 12–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
1.47
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 | Dvorak | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.45 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 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: Dvorak 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.
Dvorak 2G 4A, 25 SOG · Barzal 1G 5A, 34 SOG
Dvorak's offensive zone 1–3 · neutral 4–1 · Dvorak's defensive zone 7–7 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Dvorak blocked 3 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Dvorak's.
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
14:49 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–27
- 10.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–1.0
- 8.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-03 | PHI 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-26 | PHI 0–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-28 | PHI 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-25 | PHI 4–3 NYI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-19 | MTL 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-11 | MTL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-16 | MTL 5–3 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-11 | MTL 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-14 | MTL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-04-15 | MTL 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-11-04 | MTL 2–6 NYI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-17 | ARI 2–1 NYI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
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)
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 Christian Dvorak 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 Christian Dvorak's 1.42. Dvorak had 51 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, Christian Dvorak or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 22 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dvorak and Barzal done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 7–9. Dvorak had 6 points (2 goals) and Barzal had 6 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Dvorak or Barzal?
- Against each other, Dvorak has won 12 and Barzal 11 of their 23 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 →