Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
They split the 33 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, High-danger chances 57.9%, Goals above expected +1.7.
Barzal's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, 20+ mph bursts 313, Power-play share 72.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.62
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Barbashev 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.
Barbashev 4G 3A, 17 SOG · Barzal 3G 7A, 23 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 1–1 · Barbashev's defensive zone 3–0 (2017-18 to 2022-23)
Barbashev blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 2 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
9:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–6
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 67.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | VGK 4–5 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-13 | VGK 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-23 | VGK 3–2 NYI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-06 | VGK 5–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-06 | STL 7–4 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-03 | STL 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-09 | STL 6–1 NYI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-27 | STL 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2019-10-14 | STL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2019-01-15 | STL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-01-05 | STL 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2017-10-09 | STL 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
1.8proj. 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)
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 CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 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, Ivan Barbashev or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 33 stats where both qualify.
- How have Barbashev and Barzal done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 6–6. Barbashev had 7 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 10 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Barzal?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 6 and Barzal 2 of their 8 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 →