Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stamkos for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
They split the 35 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Fenwick 51.7%, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.02.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.085, Goals above expected +5.9.
Head to head on the dot, Stamkos leads Barzal 15–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 1.02 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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 8G 14A, 55 SOG · Stamkos 10G 9A, 67 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 3–4 · neutral 1–7 · Barzal's defensive zone 2–4 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barzal blocked 1 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 2 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
10:09 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–15
- 46.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.6
- 53.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | NYI 3–4 NSH | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-08 | NYI 1–2 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-30 | NYI 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-24 | NYI 2–4 TBL | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-08 | NYI 6–2 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-22 | NYI 3–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-29 | NYI 4–6 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 3G 0A 7S |
| 2022-03-27 | NYI 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-11-15 | NYI 1–4 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-06-25 · PO | NYI 0–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-06-23 · PO | NYI 3–2 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-06-21 · PO | NYI 0–8 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 5S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 35 stats where both qualify.
- How have Barzal and Stamkos done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 8–17. Barzal had 22 points (8 goals) and Stamkos had 19 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 6 and Stamkos 15 of their 21 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 →