Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, 20+ mph bursts 313.
Hertl's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.8%, Draw Equity /100 +0.096, Hits 114.
Head to head on the dot, Barzal leads Hertl 9–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.41 |
| 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 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.27 |
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 Hertl
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 6A, 26 SOG · Hertl 4G 5A, 36 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 6–3 · neutral 3–1 · Barzal's defensive zone 0–3 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barzal blocked 0 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 1 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
6:11 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–8
- 38.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 39.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | NYI 5–4 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-13 | NYI 4–3 VGK | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-09 | NYI 4–0 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-05 | NYI 4–5 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 3G 0A 8S |
| 2022-10-18 | NYI 5–2 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-24 | NYI 3–4 SJS | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-12-02 | NYI 1–2 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-20 | NYI 1–4 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2018-10-08 | NYI 4–0 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2017-10-21 | NYI 5–3 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2017-10-14 | NYI 3–1 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 20 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 7–4. Barzal had 8 points (2 goals) and Hertl had 9 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Hertl?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 9 and Hertl 7 of their 16 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 →