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Who to start · 2025-26

Mario Ferraro vs Mathew Barzal

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mario Ferraro's 1.71.

Ferraro had 23 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.

This week Ferraro has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Ferraro for 1.6 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.

Mathew Barzal has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Ferraro's biggest edges: Hits 137, Goals above expected +2.7, Luck Meter +50.

Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Power-play share 72.3%, Offensive-zone start % 62.4%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mario Ferraro

1.56

fantasy points per game

Mathew Barzal

1.82

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromFerraroBarzal
Goals (+2)0.170.47
Assists (+1)0.200.65
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.110.23
Hits (+0.1)0.170.04
Blocks (+0.5)0.910.31

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: Ferraro vs Barzal

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

FerraroBarzal
4Team record in 10 meetings6
2Points in those games10

Ferraro 0G 2A, 9 SOG · Barzal 3G 7A, 23 SOG

1Hits on each other0
0Shots blocked by the other1

Ferraro blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Ferraro's.

On the ice against each other (Ferraro's side)

16:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ferraro's side

Shot attempts
18–20
47.4%
Expected goals
1.1–0.4
71.3%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Mario Ferraro and Mathew Barzal
DateScoreFerraroBarzal
2026-03-07SJS 1–2 NYI0G 0A 2S0G 1A 3S
2025-10-21SJS 3–4 NYI0G 1A 0S0G 1A 1S
2025-01-18SJS 1–4 NYI0G 0A 2S1G 1A 3S
2024-03-07SJS 2–7 NYI0G 0A 0S1G 0A 1S
2023-12-05SJS 5–4 NYI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2022-10-18SJS 2–5 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2022-02-24SJS 4–3 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 2A 4S
2021-12-02SJS 2–1 NYI0G 0A 1S1G 0A 2S
2020-02-23SJS 1–4 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 2A 2S
2019-11-23SJS 2–1 NYI0G 1A 0S0G 0A 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.

FerraroBarzal

Fantasy box score

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.

Mario Ferraro

2games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 vs BOS
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.6 pts
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to DLikely vs John Gibson (.901)

Mathew Barzal

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 pts
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)

FAQ

Should I start Mario Ferraro or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mario Ferraro's 1.71. Ferraro had 23 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, Mario Ferraro 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 Ferraro and Barzal done against each other?
In 10 games against each other in our data, Ferraro's team went 4–6. Ferraro had 2 points (0 goals) and Barzal had 10 (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 →