Who to start · 2025-26
Macklin Celebrini vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Macklin Celebrini projects to 3.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Celebrini had 115 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Celebrini has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Celebrini for 3.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Macklin Celebrini has the better number in 21 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Celebrini's biggest edges: Hardest shot 97.9, Goals above expected +5.9, Luck Meter +76.
Barzal's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, Fenwick 51.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 7 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Macklin Celebrini
2.89
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Macklin Celebrini has the edge.
| Points per game from | Celebrini | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.10 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.85 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.32 | 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: Celebrini vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Celebrini 2G 0A, 13 SOG · Barzal 1G 3A, 7 SOG
Celebrini's offensive zone 3–0 · neutral 1–1 · Celebrini's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Celebrini's side)
9:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Celebrini's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–3
- 80.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.4
- 73.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Celebrini | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | SJS 1–2 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-21 | SJS 3–4 NYI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-18 | SJS 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
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.
Macklin Celebrini
2games (1 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK3.0 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
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 Macklin Celebrini or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Macklin Celebrini projects to 3.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Celebrini had 115 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, Macklin Celebrini or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Macklin Celebrini leads in 21 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Celebrini and Barzal done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Celebrini's team went 0–3. Celebrini had 2 points (2 goals) and Barzal had 4 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Celebrini or Barzal?
- Against each other, Celebrini has won 4 and Barzal 1 of their 5 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 →