Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Shayne Gostisbehere
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shayne Gostisbehere projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Gostisbehere had 50 in 55 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Gostisbehere has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Gostisbehere for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Blocked shots 50, Penalty minutes 61.
Gostisbehere's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.0, Transition attempts /60 0.51, Luck Meter +51.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Shayne Gostisbehere
2.15
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Shayne Gostisbehere has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Gostisbehere |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.57 |
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 Gostisbehere
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 12G 16A, 85 SOG · Gostisbehere 3G 11A, 56 SOG
Barzal blocked 3 of Gostisbehere's shots; Gostisbehere blocked 4 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
4:44 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–2
- 77.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.1
- 83.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Gostisbehere |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | NYI 1–2 CAR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-04 | NYI 3–4 CAR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-25 | NYI 3–2 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-17 | NYI 0–4 CAR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-03-21 | NYI 3–6 DET | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-02-29 | NYI 5–3 DET | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-30 | NYI 3–4 DET | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-28 · PO | NYI 1–2 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-25 · PO | NYI 3–2 CAR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-23 · PO | NYI 2–5 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-21 · PO | NYI 5–1 CAR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-19 · PO | NYI 3–4 CAR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 33 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)
Shayne Gostisbehere
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.8 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Shayne Gostisbehere in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shayne Gostisbehere projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Gostisbehere had 50 in 55 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 Shayne Gostisbehere?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 18 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 Gostisbehere done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 17–16. Barzal had 28 points (12 goals) and Gostisbehere had 14 (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 →