Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Sanderson vs Mathew Barzal
In 2025-26, Jake Sanderson scored 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Sanderson had 54 points in 67 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Sanderson has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Sanderson for 1.7 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Jake Sanderson has the better number in 16 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Sanderson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.69, Hardest shot 99.7, Goals above expected +2.0.
Barzal's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Offensive-zone start % 62.4%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Sanderson
2.40
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Sanderson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Sanderson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.60 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 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: Sanderson vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Sanderson 1G 2A, 12 SOG · Barzal 1G 5A, 16 SOG
Sanderson blocked 3 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 2 of Sanderson's.
On the ice against each other (Sanderson's side)
14:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Sanderson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–13
- 48.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.9
- 32.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Sanderson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | OTT 3–0 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-18 | OTT 4–5 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-14 | OTT 2–0 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | OTT 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-24 | OTT 3–5 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | OTT 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-25 | OTT 2–1 NYI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-14 | OTT 2–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
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.
Jake Sanderson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
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 Jake Sanderson or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Jake Sanderson scored 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Sanderson had 54 points in 67 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, Jake Sanderson or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Sanderson leads in 16 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Sanderson and Barzal done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Sanderson's team went 4–4. Sanderson had 3 points (1 goals) and Barzal had 6 (1 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 →