Who to start · 2025-26
Kyle Connor vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Connor had 92 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Connor has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Connor for 2.4 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
They split the 33 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Connor's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.9, Goals above expected +1.1, Luck Meter +36.
Barzal's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 210, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Blocked shots 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kyle Connor
2.22
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kyle Connor has the edge.
| Points per game from | Connor | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 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: Connor 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.
Connor 4G 5A, 38 SOG · Barzal 7G 6A, 33 SOG
Connor blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Connor's.
On the ice against each other (Connor's side)
15:53 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Connor's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–20
- 41.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 46.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Connor | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | WPG 5–4 NYI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-13 | WPG 5–2 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-23 | WPG 3–6 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-01-16 | WPG 4–2 NYI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-11 | WPG 2–5 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-06 | WPG 0–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-10-17 | WPG 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-06 | WPG 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2019-03-28 | WPG 4–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2018-12-04 | WPG 3–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2017-12-29 | WPG 4–2 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2017-12-23 | WPG 2–5 NYI | 0G 1A 4S | 3G 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.
Kyle Connor
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
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 Kyle Connor or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Connor had 92 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, Kyle Connor or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 33 stats where both qualify.
- How have Connor and Barzal done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Connor's team went 5–7. Connor had 9 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 13 (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 →