Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Matt Boldy
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matt Boldy projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Boldy had 85 in 76 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Boldy has 1 left. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Boldy's 1.8.
Matt Boldy has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.1%, High-danger chances 57.9%, Hits 137.
Boldy's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.56, Ascension score 52, Power-play share 74.6%.
- • 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, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Matt Boldy
2.55
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matt Boldy has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Boldy |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 1.04 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.36 |
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 Boldy
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 2G 6A, 33 SOG · Boldy 10G 10A, 75 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Barbashev's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Barbashev blocked 1 of Boldy's shots; Boldy blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
19:38 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–18
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.6
- 50.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Boldy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | VGK 2–4 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-29 | VGK 2–5 MIN | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-16 | VGK 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | VGK 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-04-29 · PO | VGK 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | VGK 4–3 MIN | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | VGK 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | VGK 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-20 · PO | VGK 4–2 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-25 | VGK 5–1 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-12 | VGK 4–1 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-15 | VGK 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 26 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)
1.8proj. 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)
Matt Boldy
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 12th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Matt Boldy in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matt Boldy projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Boldy had 85 in 76 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 Matt Boldy?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Matt Boldy leads in 21 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 Boldy done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 17–9. Barbashev had 8 points (2 goals) and Boldy had 20 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Boldy?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 0 and Boldy 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 →