Who to start · 2025-26
Kirill Marchenko vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Marchenko projects to 1.92 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Marchenko had 67 points in 76 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Marchenko has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Marchenko for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Kirill Marchenko has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchenko's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.56, Top skating speed 23.4, Hardest shot 88.7.
Barzal's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 210, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Penalty minutes 61.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kirill Marchenko
2.02
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kirill Marchenko has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marchenko | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.71 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.26 | 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: Marchenko 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.
Marchenko 3G 3A, 21 SOG · Barzal 3G 8A, 21 SOG
Marchenko blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Marchenko's.
On the ice against each other (Marchenko's side)
17:40 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Marchenko's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–27
- 42.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–1.9
- 42.8%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchenko | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | CBJ 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-28 | CBJ 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-12-28 | CBJ 4–2 NYI | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-02 | CBJ 2–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-20 | CBJ 1–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-10-30 | CBJ 2–0 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-04 | CBJ 2–4 NYI | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-12-07 | CBJ 3–7 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2022-12-29 | CBJ 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 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.
Kirill Marchenko
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
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 Kirill Marchenko or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Marchenko projects to 1.92 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Marchenko had 67 points in 76 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, Kirill Marchenko or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kirill Marchenko leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchenko and Barzal done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Marchenko's team went 2–7. Marchenko had 6 points (3 goals) and Barzal had 11 (3 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 →