Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Strome vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Strome's 1.72.
Strome had 58 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Strome has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Strome for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 24 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Strome's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 58.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.104, Faceoffs won 777.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.02.
Head to head on the dot, Strome leads Barzal 8–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Strome
1.62
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Strome | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 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: Strome vs Barzal
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.
Strome 3G 3A, 22 SOG · Barzal 4G 3A, 31 SOG
Strome's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 3–4 · Strome's defensive zone 4–0 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Strome blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Strome's.
On the ice against each other (Strome's side)
11:59 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Strome's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–15
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.9
- 37.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Strome | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-30 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | WSH 4–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-29 | WSH 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-20 | WSH 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-11 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-02 | WSH 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-16 | WSH 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-05 | CHI 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-12-27 | CHI 5–2 NYI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-01-22 | CHI 3–2 NYI | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-01-03 | CHI 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 8S |
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 Strome
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
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 Dylan Strome or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Strome's 1.72. Strome had 58 points in 80 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 Strome or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 24 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Strome and Barzal done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Strome's team went 9–3. Strome had 6 points (3 goals) and Barzal had 7 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Strome or Barzal?
- Against each other, Strome has won 8 and Barzal 6 of their 14 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 →