Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Expected goals 57.3%, Sequence xG 57.2%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Faceoffs won 773, Penalty minutes 44.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Barbashev 9–2.
- • 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
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.10 |
| 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 Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barbashev 2G 3A, 11 SOG · Crosby 5G 4A, 37 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 2–4 · Barbashev's defensive zone 0–3 (2018-19 to 2021-22)
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-07 | VGK 4–0 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-20 | VGK 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-19 | VGK 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-25 | STL 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-03 | STL 2–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-03-17 | STL 2–3 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-01-05 | STL 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2019-03-16 | STL 5–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-12-29 | STL 1–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2018-02-11 | STL 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 3–7. Barbashev had 5 points (2 goals) and Crosby had 9 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Crosby?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 2 and Crosby 9 of their 11 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 →