Who to start · 2025-26
Juraj Slafkovský vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Juraj Slafkovský projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Slafkovský had 73 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Slafkovský has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Slafkovský for 1.5 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Slafkovský's biggest edges: Hits 105, Luck Meter +30, On-ice PDO 1039.
Barzal's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, Faceoffs won 210.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Juraj Slafkovský
2.25
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Juraj Slafkovský has the edge.
| Points per game from | Slafkovský | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.48 | 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: Slafkovský 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.
Slafkovský 2G 8A, 9 SOG · Barzal 1G 4A, 26 SOG
On the ice against each other (Slafkovský's side)
16:11 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Slafkovský's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–21
- 47.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.8
- 47.7%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Slafkovský | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | MTL 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-03-21 | MTL 7–3 NYI | 2G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-02-26 | MTL 3–4 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-19 | MTL 3–4 NYI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-11 | MTL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-25 | MTL 4–3 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 9S |
| 2023-12-16 | MTL 5–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-14 | MTL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Juraj Slafkovský
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.5 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
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 CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Juraj Slafkovský or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Juraj Slafkovský projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Slafkovský had 73 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, Juraj Slafkovský or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Slafkovský and Barzal done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Slafkovský's team went 4–4. Slafkovský had 10 points (2 goals) and Barzal had 5 (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 →