Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left. We project Barzal for 1.8 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Blocked shots 50, 20+ mph bursts 313.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Barzal 20–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.84
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Tavares 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.
Tavares 7G 7A, 56 SOG · Barzal 7G 16A, 48 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 5–0 · neutral 9–9 · Tavares's defensive zone 6–1 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
14:51 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–19
- 51.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–1.1
- 27.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | TOR 3–5 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-17 | TOR 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2026-01-03 | TOR 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-02 | TOR 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-12-31 | TOR 3–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-21 | TOR 3–6 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-05 | TOR 2–3 NYI | 1G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-11 | TOR 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 3A 5S |
| 2023-12-11 | TOR 3–4 NYI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-23 | TOR 5–2 NYI | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-21 | TOR 2–3 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-22 | TOR 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 19 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 Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TORSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 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 Tavares or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Barzal done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 8–11. Tavares had 14 points (7 goals) and Barzal had 23 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Barzal?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 20 and Barzal 10 of their 30 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 →