Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 29 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.12, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, High-danger chances 57.5%.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, On-ice PDO 1006.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Barzal 10–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.21
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.17 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.10 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 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: McDavid 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.
McDavid 4G 12A, 54 SOG · Barzal 4G 6A, 22 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 4–0 · neutral 1–5 · McDavid's defensive zone 5–2 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
McDavid blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
10:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–13
- 58.1%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–0.9
- 65.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | EDM 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | EDM 2–4 NYI | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | EDM 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-13 | EDM 4–1 NYI | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-05 | EDM 4–2 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-23 | EDM 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-11 | EDM 3–1 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-01 | EDM 2–3 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-10-08 | EDM 5–2 NYI | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-02-21 | EDM 4–3 NYI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-02-16 | EDM 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-08 | EDM 2–1 NYI | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
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 Connor McDavid or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. McDavid had 138 points in 82 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, Connor McDavid or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 29 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McDavid and Barzal done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 7–6. McDavid had 16 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Barzal?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 10 and Barzal 7 of their 17 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 →