Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Roman Josi
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Roman Josi projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Josi had 55 in 68 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left; Josi has 1 left. We project Josi for 2.1 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.8.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Penalty minutes 61, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030.
Josi's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, Hardest shot 96.7, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Roman Josi
2.22
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Roman Josi has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Josi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.62 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.74 |
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 Josi
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 9A, 39 SOG · Josi 4G 10A, 51 SOG
Barzal blocked 0 of Josi's shots; Josi blocked 2 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
8:25 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–10
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.0
- 18.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Josi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | NYI 3–4 NSH | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2026-01-08 | NYI 1–2 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-06 | NYI 2–0 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-13 | NYI 1–3 NSH | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-02 | NYI 1–4 NSH | 1G 0A 9S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-11-17 | NYI 4–5 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 4A 7S |
| 2021-12-09 | NYI 3–4 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2021-10-30 | NYI 2–3 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-13 | NYI 0–5 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-12-17 | NYI 3–8 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2018-10-13 | NYI 2–5 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-10-06 | NYI 3–4 NSH | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
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
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TORSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
Roman Josi
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.1 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Roman Josi in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Roman Josi projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Josi had 55 in 68 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 Roman Josi?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 21 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 Josi done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 2–12. Barzal had 12 points (3 goals) and Josi had 14 (4 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 →