Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 210, Blocked shots 50, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Transition attempts /60 1.45, Hardest shot 92.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.19 |
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 Kucherov
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 14A, 54 SOG · Kucherov 3G 25A, 63 SOG
Barzal blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
10:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–13
- 27.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.4
- 31.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-13 | NYI 3–2 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-12-02 | NYI 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-01 | NYI 3–2 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-30 | NYI 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 8S |
| 2024-02-24 | NYI 2–4 TBL | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2024-02-08 | NYI 6–2 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-22 | NYI 3–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-29 | NYI 4–6 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-03-27 | NYI 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-06-25 · PO | NYI 0–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-06-23 · PO | NYI 3–2 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-06-21 · PO | NYI 0–8 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 3S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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 Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 24 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 Kucherov done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 11–14. Barzal had 20 points (6 goals) and Kucherov had 28 (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 →