Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.7 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 19 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.1, Luck Meter +21, On-ice PDO 1034.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Blocked shots 50, Top skating speed 22.5.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Barzal 24–21.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.08
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.75 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 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: Malkin vs Barzal
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.
Malkin 12G 22A, 92 SOG · Barzal 8G 24A, 100 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 5–11 · neutral 14–8 · Malkin's defensive zone 5–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Malkin blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
11:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–16
- 30.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.4
- 29.7%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | PIT 4–5 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | PIT 4–3 NYI | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-12-29 | PIT 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | PIT 3–6 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-02-20 | PIT 4–5 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-31 | PIT 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-12-27 | PIT 7–0 NYI | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-17 | PIT 4–5 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-12-27 | PIT 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2021-05-26 · PO | PIT 3–5 NYI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-05-24 · PO | PIT 2–3 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-22 · PO | PIT 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 34 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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.7 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Evgeni Malkin or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 19 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Barzal done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 15–19. Malkin had 34 points (12 goals) and Barzal had 32 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Barzal?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 24 and Barzal 21 of their 45 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 →