Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Shorthanded points 2, Blocked shots 179.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.1%, Hits 137, Hardest shot 87.4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Lindell 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.
Lindell 1G 8A, 73 SOG · Barbashev 7G 17A, 39 SOG
Lindell blocked 5 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 2 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
23:40 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–25
- 45.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–1.3
- 44.3%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | DAL 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-10 | DAL 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-29 | DAL 5–4 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-28 | DAL 4–3 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-24 | DAL 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-06 | DAL 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-05 · PO | DAL 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-03 · PO | DAL 0–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-01 · PO | DAL 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-29 · PO | DAL 4–2 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | DAL 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | DAL 1–3 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 47 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.
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 Esa Lindell or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Lindell had 32 points in 82 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, Esa Lindell or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindell and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 47 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 23–24. Lindell had 9 points (1 goals) and Barbashev had 24 (7 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 →