Who to start · 2025-26
Martin Necas vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Necas had 100 points in 78 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Necas has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Necas for 1.7 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Martin Necas has the better number in 27 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Necas's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.9, Hardest shot 93.4, Luck Meter +71.
Barzal's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, Blocked shots 50, Faceoffs won 210.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Martin Necas
2.46
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Martin Necas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Necas | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.97 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.79 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 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: Necas vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Necas 6G 14A, 58 SOG · Barzal 8G 14A, 85 SOG
Necas's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Necas's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19)
On the ice against each other (Necas's side)
9:35 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Necas's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–6
- 64.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 31.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Necas | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-04 | COL 3–6 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-11-16 | COL 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-28 | COL 2–5 NYI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-17 | CAR 4–0 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | CAR 6–3 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | CAR 2–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-25 · PO | CAR 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-22 · PO | CAR 5–3 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-20 · PO | CAR 3–1 NYI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-19 | CAR 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-23 | CAR 4–5 NYI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-11-30 | CAR 4–5 NYI | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 3A 2S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Martin Necas
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.7 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Martin Necas or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Necas had 100 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, Martin Necas or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Martin Necas leads in 27 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Necas and Barzal done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Necas's team went 19–10. Necas had 20 points (6 goals) and Barzal had 22 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Necas or Barzal?
- Against each other, Necas has won 0 and Barzal 1 of their 1 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 →