Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 19 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.02, 20+ mph bursts 313.
Bennett's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.9, Hits 115, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018.
Head to head on the dot, Bennett leads Barzal 17–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.83
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.21 |
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 Bennett
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 2G 7A, 36 SOG · Bennett 6G 2A, 35 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 3–5 · neutral 7–9 · Barzal's defensive zone 0–3 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barzal blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 0 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
15:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–22
- 45.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.7
- 55.2%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | NYI 5–4 FLA | 0G 1A 5S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-07 | NYI 1–4 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-26 | NYI 3–6 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-28 | NYI 3–2 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-27 | NYI 2–3 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-23 | NYI 5–1 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-10-23 | NYI 2–3 FLA | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-13 | NYI 1–3 FLA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-19 | NYI 2–3 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-16 | NYI 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-10-16 | NYI 1–5 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2019-02-26 | NYI 1–3 CGY | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 19 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 4–11. Barzal had 9 points (2 goals) and Bennett had 8 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Bennett?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 10 and Bennett 17 of their 27 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 →