Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.8.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 25 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Hits 29.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Luck Meter +44.
Head to head on the dot, Schmaltz leads Barzal 7–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.32 |
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 Schmaltz
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 3G 7A, 29 SOG · Schmaltz 4G 5A, 23 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 2–2 · Barzal's defensive zone 0–3 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barzal blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
7:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–6
- 53.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.5
- 45.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | NYI 2–7 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-14 | NYI 3–2 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYI 2–1 UTA | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-10 | NYI 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-04 | NYI 5–1 ARI | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-17 | NYI 1–0 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-16 | NYI 4–5 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2022-01-21 | NYI 4–0 ARI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-10-23 | NYI 3–0 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-17 | NYI 1–2 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-24 | NYI 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-12-18 | NYI 3–1 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Schmaltz had 74 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 Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 25 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barzal and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 9–5. Barzal had 10 points (3 goals) and Schmaltz had 9 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 4 and Schmaltz 7 of their 11 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 →