Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 3.2 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Hits 137, High-danger chances 57.9%.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.83, Power-play share 79.5%, 20+ mph bursts 455.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Barbashev 15–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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 9G 10A, 46 SOG · MacKinnon 23G 39A, 207 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 4–5 · neutral 2–2 · Barbashev's defensive zone 6–8 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Barbashev blocked 4 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 0 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
44:54 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 34–66
- 34.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–3.0
- 26.7%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 · PO | VGK 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-05-24 · PO | VGK 5–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2026-05-22 · PO | VGK 3–1 COL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-20 · PO | VGK 4–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-11 | VGK 3–2 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-27 | VGK 5–6 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 9S |
| 2025-10-31 | VGK 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-08 | VGK 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-27 | VGK 1–2 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 10S |
| 2024-10-09 | VGK 8–4 COL | 2G 2A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-04-14 | VGK 4–3 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-10 | VGK 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 7S |
Latest 12 of 47 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
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
3.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL3.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 28 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 47 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 20–27. Barbashev had 19 points (9 goals) and MacKinnon had 62 (23 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 12 and MacKinnon 15 of their 27 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 →