Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Rasmus Dahlin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Dahlin projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Dahlin had 74 in 77 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Dahlin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Dahlin for 2.5 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Rasmus Dahlin has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, Offensive-zone start % 62.4%.
Dahlin's biggest edges: Luck Meter +65, Goals above expected +1.3, Hardest shot 96.2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Dahlin
2.20
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rasmus Dahlin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.71 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.51 |
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 Dahlin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barzal 4G 11A, 52 SOG · Dahlin 3G 14A, 51 SOG
Barzal blocked 0 of Dahlin's shots; Dahlin blocked 5 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
13:39 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–18
- 37.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.2
- 33.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | NYI 3–4 BUF | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-24 | NYI 0–5 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-20 | NYI 2–3 BUF | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-23 | NYI 1–7 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 4A 1S |
| 2024-03-14 | NYI 0–4 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-21 | NYI 1–3 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-14 | NYI 3–2 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-19 | NYI 2–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-04-23 | NYI 3–5 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-30 | NYI 4–1 BUF | 1G 2A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-15 | NYI 3–6 BUF | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-05-03 | NYI 2–4 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 23 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 CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Rasmus Dahlin
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Rasmus Dahlin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Dahlin projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Dahlin had 74 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 Rasmus Dahlin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rasmus Dahlin 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 Dahlin done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 12–11. Barzal had 15 points (4 goals) and Dahlin had 17 (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 →