Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left; Ekholm has 1 left. We project Barzal for 1.8 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Penalty minutes 61, Power-play share 72.3%.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.80, Hardest shot 98.4, High-danger chances 58.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.76 |
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: Barzal vs Ekholm
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.
Barzal 4G 9A, 32 SOG · Ekholm 2G 8A, 22 SOG
Barzal blocked 0 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 2 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
11:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–12
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–1.0
- 55.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | NYI 1–0 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-16 | NYI 4–2 EDM | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-19 | NYI 3–1 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-11-13 | NYI 1–4 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-02 | NYI 1–4 NSH | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-11-17 | NYI 4–5 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-09 | NYI 3–4 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-10-30 | NYI 2–3 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-13 | NYI 0–5 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-12-17 | NYI 3–8 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2018-10-13 | NYI 2–5 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2018-10-06 | NYI 3–4 NSH | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TORSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 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, Mathew Barzal or Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barzal and Ekholm done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 4–10. Barzal had 13 points (4 goals) and Ekholm had 10 (2 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 →