Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Mathew Barzal
In 2025-26, Drake Batherson scored 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left. We project Batherson for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.8.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Hits 122, Hardest shot 90.6.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Plus/minus +10, On-ice PDO 1006.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Drake Batherson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Batherson vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Batherson 3G 7A, 28 SOG · Barzal 1G 7A, 25 SOG
Batherson's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Batherson's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23)
Batherson blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Batherson's.
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
6:44 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 95.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | OTT 3–0 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-19 | OTT 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-18 | OTT 4–5 NYI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-14 | OTT 2–0 NYI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | OTT 4–3 NYI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-24 | OTT 3–5 NYI | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | OTT 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-14 | OTT 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2023-01-25 | OTT 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-14 | OTT 2–4 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-12-07 | OTT 3–5 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Drake Batherson
1games
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR2.0 pts
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TORSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Drake Batherson scored 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Batherson had 71 points in 79 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, Drake Batherson or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson 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 Batherson and Barzal done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 6–5. Batherson had 10 points (3 goals) and Barzal had 8 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Batherson or Barzal?
- Against each other, Batherson 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 →