Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Lawson Crouse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivan Barbashev projects to 1.66 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 games.
This week Barbashev has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Crouse has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 3.3 ESPN points to Crouse's 2.4.
Lawson Crouse has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Offensive-zone time 42.5%, Offensive-zone start % 67.1%.
Crouse's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.80, Penalty minutes 46, 20+ mph bursts 155.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.66
fantasy points per game
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ivan Barbashev has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.53 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.56 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.28 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.30 |
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 Crouse
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 6G 8A, 38 SOG · Crouse 6G 7A, 48 SOG
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
48:43 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 41–50
- 45.1%
- Expected goals
- 2.0–2.5
- 44.6%
- Goals
- 1–5
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Crouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | VGK 5–1 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | VGK 5–4 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | VGK 5–4 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | VGK 2–4 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | VGK 2–3 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | VGK 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-03-19 | VGK 0–4 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-24 | VGK 1–5 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-20 | VGK 4–1 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | VGK 0–6 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-15 | VGK 4–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-02 | VGK 4–3 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 30 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 (2 left)
3.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA1.5 ptsvs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Lawson Crouse in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ivan Barbashev projects to 1.66 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Crouse had 44 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 Lawson Crouse?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lawson Crouse 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 Crouse done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 14–16. Barbashev had 14 points (6 goals) and Crouse had 13 (6 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 →