Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Vladislav Gavrikov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Gavrikov had 35 in 82 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Gavrikov has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Gavrikov's 1.0.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, 20+ mph bursts 313, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030.
Gavrikov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.0, High-danger chances 56.6%, Luck Meter +49.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Vladislav Gavrikov
1.48
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Gavrikov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.34 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.26 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.63 |
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 Gavrikov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barzal 7G 10A, 40 SOG · Gavrikov 4G 4A, 35 SOG
Barzal blocked 1 of Gavrikov's shots; Gavrikov blocked 0 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
28:31 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–31
- 43.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.1
- 35.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Gavrikov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | NYI 2–1 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-28 | NYI 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-27 | NYI 2–0 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | NYI 5–0 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-11 | NYI 0–3 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-09 | NYI 3–2 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-29 | NYI 2–1 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-25 | NYI 3–2 CBJ | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-12 | NYI 4–3 CBJ | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-31 | NYI 5–2 CBJ | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-03-29 | NYI 4–3 CBJ | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2021-10-21 | NYI 2–3 CBJ | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 0S |
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)
Vladislav Gavrikov
4games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.0 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Vladislav Gavrikov 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 Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Gavrikov had 35 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 Vladislav Gavrikov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 22 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 Gavrikov done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 12–3. Barzal had 17 points (7 goals) and Gavrikov had 8 (4 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 →