Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Corsi 51.6%, Fenwick 51.7%, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Luck Meter +45, On-ice PDO 1046, Hardest shot 87.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.69 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.27 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.23 |
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 Rantanen
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 1G 8A, 29 SOG · Rantanen 2G 7A, 42 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 1–0 · Barzal's defensive zone 0–1 (2017-18 to 2022-23)
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
10:37 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–12
- 29.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.6
- 18.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-18 | NYI 3–2 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-25 | NYI 3–2 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-14 | NYI 6–2 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-02 | NYI 4–5 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-10-24 | NYI 4–7 COL | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 3A 5S |
| 2022-12-19 | NYI 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 10S |
| 2022-10-29 | NYI 5–4 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-06 | NYI 1–0 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-02-09 | NYI 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-12-17 | NYI 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2017-12-31 | NYI 1–6 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2017-11-05 | NYI 6–4 COL | 0G 5A 1S | 0G 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.
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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 18 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 Rantanen done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 8–4. Barzal had 9 points (1 goals) and Rantanen had 9 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 1 and Rantanen 2 of their 3 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 →