Who to start · 2025-26
John Carlson vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Carlson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Carlson for 1.6 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Carlson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.96, Hardest shot 99.8, Goals above expected +2.6.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, Penalty minutes 61.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Carlson
2.14
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carlson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 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) | 0.75 | 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: Carlson vs Barzal
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.
Carlson 7G 14A, 76 SOG · Barzal 7G 17A, 67 SOG
Carlson blocked 2 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Carlson's.
On the ice against each other (Carlson's side)
25:50 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Carlson's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–38
- 32.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–1.9
- 29.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlson | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-30 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-31 | WSH 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | WSH 4–2 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-29 | WSH 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-20 | WSH 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-11 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-02 | WSH 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-26 | WSH 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-15 | WSH 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-15 | WSH 2–0 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-28 | WSH 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 2S |
Latest 12 of 31 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.
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 John Carlson or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Carlson had 60 points in 71 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, John Carlson or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Carlson and Barzal done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Carlson's team went 20–11. Carlson had 21 points (7 goals) and Barzal had 24 (7 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 →