Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens vs Mathew Barzal
In 2025-26, Dylan Cozens scored 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cozens for 1.4 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Hits 215, Faceoff win % 53.2%, Draw Equity /100 +0.036.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Blocked shots 50, On-ice PDO 1006.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Cozens has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cozens | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Cozens vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 4G 6A, 41 SOG · Barzal 2G 5A, 26 SOG
Cozens's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–4 · Cozens's defensive zone 1–0 (2021-22 to 2022-23)
Cozens blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Cozens's.
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
7:51 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–7
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 65.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | OTT 3–0 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-19 | OTT 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-18 | OTT 4–5 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-23 | BUF 7–1 NYI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-14 | BUF 4–0 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-21 | BUF 3–1 NYI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-14 | BUF 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-19 | BUF 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-23 | BUF 5–3 NYI | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-15 | BUF 6–3 NYI | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-05-03 | BUF 4–2 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-07 | BUF 2–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
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 CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Cozens or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Dylan Cozens scored 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Cozens had 59 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, Dylan Cozens or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cozens and Barzal done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 9–6. Cozens had 10 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cozens or Barzal?
- Against each other, Cozens has won 1 and Barzal 4 of their 5 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 →