Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, Penalty minutes 104, Faceoffs won 0.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Luck Meter +43.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Darnell Nurse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 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: Nurse vs Barbashev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nurse 3G 12A, 68 SOG · Barbashev 10G 13A, 53 SOG
Nurse blocked 2 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 0 of Nurse's.
On the ice against each other (Nurse's side)
22:12 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Nurse's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–26
- 36.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.9
- 48.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nurse | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | EDM 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2026-03-26 | EDM 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-08 | EDM 4–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-21 | EDM 4–3 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-14 · PO | EDM 1–0 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-12 · PO | EDM 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-10 · PO | EDM 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-08 · PO | EDM 5–4 VGK | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-05-06 · PO | EDM 4–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-01 | EDM 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | EDM 6–3 VGK | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-03 | EDM 0–1 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 33 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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
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 Darnell Nurse or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Nurse had 24 points in 82 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, Darnell Nurse or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nurse and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Nurse's team went 19–14. Nurse had 15 points (3 goals) and Barbashev had 23 (10 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 →