Who to start · 2025-26
Justin Faulk vs Mathew Barzal
In 2025-26, Justin Faulk scored 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Faulk had 40 points in 78 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Faulk has 2 games left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Faulk for 2.7 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Faulk's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.6, Luck Meter +78, Transition attempts /60 0.52.
Barzal's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Plus/minus +10, Fenwick 51.7%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Justin Faulk
1.91
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Justin Faulk has the edge.
| Points per game from | Faulk | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.41 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.85 | 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: Faulk 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.
Faulk 3G 9A, 58 SOG · Barzal 5G 12A, 36 SOG
Faulk blocked 4 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Faulk's.
On the ice against each other (Faulk's side)
7:27 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Faulk's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–8
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.1
- 89.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Faulk | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-22 | STL 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-17 | STL 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-05 | STL 2–4 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-06 | STL 7–4 NYI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-03 | STL 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-09 | STL 6–1 NYI | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-27 | STL 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2019-10-14 | STL 2–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2019-05-03 · PO | CAR 5–2 NYI | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-05-01 · PO | CAR 5–2 NYI | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-04-28 · PO | CAR 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-04-26 · PO | CAR 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Justin Faulk
2games
2.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYR1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.5 win%vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.5 ptsLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.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 Justin Faulk or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Justin Faulk scored 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Faulk had 40 points in 78 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, Justin Faulk or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Faulk and Barzal done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Faulk's team went 12–8. Faulk had 12 points (3 goals) and Barzal had 17 (5 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 →