Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 18 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Plus/minus +10, Sequence xG 51.3%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 55.2%, Draw Equity /100 +0.063, Goals above expected +6.6.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Barzal 43–31.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.23
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.85 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.66 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.22 |
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 Crosby
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 10G 26A, 115 SOG · Crosby 11G 27A, 116 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 8–12 · neutral 15–20 · Barzal's defensive zone 8–11 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barzal blocked 0 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 1 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
12:29 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–17
- 46.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.6
- 60.4%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-30 | NYI 3–8 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2026-02-03 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | NYI 3–4 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-29 | NYI 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYI 6–3 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-12-31 | NYI 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-27 | NYI 0–7 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-17 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-27 | NYI 5–1 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-14 | NYI 3–6 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2022-04-12 | NYI 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
Latest 12 of 40 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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 18 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 40 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 19–21. Barzal had 36 points (10 goals) and Crosby had 38 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Crosby?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 31 and Crosby 43 of their 74 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 →