Who to start · 2025-26
David Pastrnak vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Pastrnak had 100 points in 77 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Pastrnak has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Pastrnak for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Pastrnak's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.66, Hardest shot 93.1, Hits 86.
Barzal's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 210, 20+ mph bursts 313, Top skating speed 22.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Pastrnak
2.54
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, David Pastrnak has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pastrnak | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.75 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.92 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.34 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Pastrnak 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.
Pastrnak 14G 26A, 116 SOG · Barzal 10G 20A, 74 SOG
Pastrnak's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Pastrnak's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18)
Pastrnak blocked 2 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 5 of Pastrnak's.
On the ice against each other (Pastrnak's side)
19:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Pastrnak's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–24
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.7
- 26.3%
- Goals
- 1–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pastrnak | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-26 | BOS 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-04 | BOS 4–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-28 | BOS 5–2 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-05 | BOS 4–5 NYI | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | BOS 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-12-15 | BOS 5–4 NYI | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-11-09 | BOS 5–2 NYI | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-18 | BOS 6–2 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-18 | BOS 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-13 | BOS 4–3 NYI | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-26 | BOS 6–3 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-02-17 | BOS 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 34 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.
David Pastrnak
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
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 David Pastrnak or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, David Pastrnak projects to 2.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Pastrnak had 100 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, David Pastrnak or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pastrnak and Barzal done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Pastrnak's team went 22–12. Pastrnak had 40 points (14 goals) and Barzal had 30 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pastrnak or Barzal?
- Against each other, Pastrnak has won 0 and Barzal 1 of their 1 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 →