Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.1%, High-danger chances 57.9%, Expected goals 57.3%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.035, Faceoffs won 0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.17 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.96 |
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 Matheson
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 6A, 16 SOG · Matheson 2G 5A, 28 SOG
Barbashev blocked 2 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
13:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–19
- 34.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.0
- 17.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-27 | VGK 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-28 | VGK 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | VGK 6–2 MTL | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-16 | VGK 6–5 MTL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-10-30 | VGK 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-05 | VGK 4–3 MTL | 2G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-17 | STL 2–3 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-05 | STL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-03-09 | STL 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-02-05 | STL 3–2 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-12-11 | STL 4–3 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-01-09 | STL 4–7 FLA | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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 ANALikely 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)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Mike Matheson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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 Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 23 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 Matheson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 6–7. Barbashev had 11 points (5 goals) and Matheson had 7 (2 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 →