Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Penalty minutes 61, 20+ mph bursts 313.
Smith's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.05, Goals above expected +2.0, Hardest shot 90.3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.68
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.70 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.09 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barzal 1G 3A, 7 SOG · Smith 0G 1A, 9 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Barzal's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
9:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–16
- 23.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.4
- 25.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | NYI 2–1 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-21 | NYI 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-18 | NYI 4–1 SJS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 23 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 3–0. Barzal had 4 points (1 goals) and Smith had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Smith?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 1 and Smith 0 of their 1 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 →