Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Lindholm projects to 1.78 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 660, Transition attempts /60 1.40, Penalty minutes 38.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, High-danger chances 57.9%, Sequence xG 57.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Lindholm has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 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: Lindholm vs Barbashev
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.
Lindholm 3G 16A, 55 SOG · Barbashev 5G 6A, 32 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 3–1 · Lindholm's defensive zone 2–1 (2018-19 to 2024-25)
Lindholm blocked 0 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 1 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
15:17 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–15
- 48.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.9
- 36.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | BOS 4–3 VGK | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | BOS 5–6 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-20 | BOS 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-08 | BOS 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-07 | VAN 3–1 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-13 | CGY 3–1 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-12 | CGY 4–5 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-27 | CGY 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-23 | CGY 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-16 | CGY 7–2 VGK | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-12 | CGY 4–1 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-10 | CGY 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
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 Elias Lindholm or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Lindholm projects to 1.78 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 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, Elias Lindholm or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 8–15. Lindholm had 19 points (3 goals) and Barbashev had 11 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 7 and Barbashev 2 of their 9 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 →