Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell 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; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.1 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 23 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, 20+ mph bursts 313, Plus/minus +10.
Rakell's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.3, Luck Meter +20, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.36 |
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 Rakell
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 7G 12A, 50 SOG · Rakell 9G 7A, 52 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–3 · Barzal's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18 to 2019-20)
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
8:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–13
- 38.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.4
- 41.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-30 | NYI 3–8 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-03 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-09 | NYI 3–4 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-29 | NYI 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYI 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-20 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-31 | NYI 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-27 | NYI 0–7 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2022-12-27 | NYI 5–1 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-14 | NYI 3–6 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-12 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.1 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell 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; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 23 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 Rakell done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 7–11. Barzal had 19 points (7 goals) and Rakell had 16 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Rakell?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 1 and Rakell 3 of their 4 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 →