Who to start · 2025-26
Colton Parayko 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 Colton Parayko's 1.73.
Parayko had 18 points in 77 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Parayko has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Parayko for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Parayko's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.62, Hits 95, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.14.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Plus/minus +10, Penalty minutes 61.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Colton Parayko
1.66
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 | Parayko | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.10 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.18 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Parayko 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.
Parayko 2G 1A, 21 SOG · Barzal 3G 9A, 27 SOG
Parayko blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Parayko's.
On the ice against each other (Parayko's side)
9:14 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Parayko's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–10
- 16.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 14.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Parayko | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | STL 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-11-22 | STL 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-17 | STL 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-05 | STL 2–4 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-22 | STL 4–0 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-12-06 | STL 7–4 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-03 | STL 2–5 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-09 | STL 6–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-27 | STL 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2019-10-14 | STL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2019-01-15 | STL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-01-05 | STL 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Colton Parayko
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
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 CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Colton Parayko 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 Colton Parayko's 1.73. Parayko had 18 points in 77 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, Colton Parayko 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 Parayko and Barzal done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Parayko's team went 7–7. Parayko had 3 points (2 goals) and Barzal had 12 (3 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 →