Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Power-play share 74.2%, Power-play time per game 3:18.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Blocked shots 37, Sequence xG 57.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 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: Karlsson 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.
Karlsson 4G 10A, 53 SOG · Barbashev 4G 6A, 28 SOG
Karlsson blocked 1 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 2 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
9:59 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–8
- 52.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 49.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | PIT 2–6 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-01 | PIT 5–0 VGK | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-07 | PIT 0–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-20 | PIT 2–3 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-11-19 | PIT 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-30 | SJS 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-10 | SJS 3–5 STL | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-18 | SJS 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-01-20 | SJS 2–1 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-01-18 | SJS 4–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2020-01-07 | SJS 2–3 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-21 | SJS 2–5 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Erik Karlsson or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 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, Erik Karlsson or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Karlsson and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 7–14. Karlsson had 14 points (4 goals) and Barbashev had 10 (4 goals).
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 →