Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Offensive-zone start % 62.4%, Corsi 51.6%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 100.6, Hits 59, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.035.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.77
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.96 |
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 Matheson
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 6G 15A, 89 SOG · Matheson 3G 9A, 68 SOG
Barzal blocked 5 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 8 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
29:12 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 43–33
- 56.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–1.1
- 62.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | NYI 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-21 | NYI 3–7 MTL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-26 | NYI 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-19 | NYI 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-11 | NYI 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-25 | NYI 3–4 MTL | 1G 1A 9S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-16 | NYI 3–5 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-11 | NYI 3–4 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-04-14 | NYI 3–6 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-04-12 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-26 | NYI 0–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-05-26 · PO | NYI 5–3 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 33 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)
1.4proj. 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)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Mike Matheson 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 Mike Matheson's 1.80. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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 Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 23 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 Matheson done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 14–19. Barzal had 21 points (6 goals) and Matheson had 12 (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 →