Who to start · 2025-26
Cutter Gauthier vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cutter Gauthier projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Gauthier had 69 points in 76 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Gauthier has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Gauthier for 1.7 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 18 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Gauthier's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 3.19, Hardest shot 99.9, Goals above expected +5.8.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, On-ice PDO 1006, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cutter Gauthier
2.16
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cutter Gauthier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Gauthier | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.08 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 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: Gauthier vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Gauthier 2G 0A, 10 SOG · Barzal 1G 1A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Gauthier's side)
6:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Gauthier's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–4
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 67.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Gauthier | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | ANA 5–1 NYI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-11 | ANA 2–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-29 | ANA 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
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.
Cutter Gauthier
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.7 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
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 Cutter Gauthier or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cutter Gauthier projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Gauthier had 69 points in 76 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, Cutter Gauthier or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 18 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Gauthier and Barzal done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Gauthier's team went 2–1. Gauthier had 2 points (2 goals) and Barzal had 2 (1 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 →