Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Jake Guentzel
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Guentzel had 88 in 81 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left; Guentzel has 1 left. We project Guentzel for 2.3 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Jake Guentzel has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Hardest shot 87.4.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, Ascension score 53, Power-play share 81.1%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Jake Guentzel
2.20
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Guentzel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Guentzel |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.58 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.24 |
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: Barbashev vs Guentzel
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.
Barbashev 5G 4A, 19 SOG · Guentzel 2G 7A, 45 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Barbashev's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23)
Barbashev blocked 2 of Guentzel's shots; Guentzel blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
7:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–6
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 49.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Guentzel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | VGK 3–6 TBL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-26 | VGK 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-03-23 | VGK 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-17 | VGK 3–4 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-20 | VGK 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-19 | VGK 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-25 | STL 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-12-03 | STL 2–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-17 | STL 2–3 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-05 | STL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2019-12-04 | STL 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-11-30 | STL 5–2 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.6 pts
Jake Guentzel
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.3 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Jake Guentzel in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Guentzel had 88 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, Ivan Barbashev or Jake Guentzel?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Guentzel leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barbashev and Guentzel done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 4–11. Barbashev had 9 points (5 goals) and Guentzel had 9 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Guentzel?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 0 and Guentzel 1 of their 1 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 →