Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs William Nylander
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left; Nylander has 1 left. We project Nylander for 2.1 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.8.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Penalty minutes 61, Blocked shots 50.
Nylander's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.67, Goals above expected +5.0, Hardest shot 92.6.
Head to head on the dot, Nylander leads Barzal 8–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.92 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.75 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.20 |
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 Nylander
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 16A, 55 SOG · Nylander 6G 12A, 68 SOG
Barzal's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 4–3 · Barzal's defensive zone 3–5 (2017-18 to 2018-19)
Barzal blocked 3 of Nylander's shots; Nylander blocked 0 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
11:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–21
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.3
- 78.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | NYI 5–3 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-17 | NYI 3–1 TOR | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-02 | NYI 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | NYI 1–3 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-12-21 | NYI 6–3 TOR | 1G 0A 5S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2024-02-05 | NYI 3–2 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-01-11 | NYI 4–3 TOR | 1G 3A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-11 | NYI 4–3 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-01-23 | NYI 2–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 2A 4S |
| 2022-11-21 | NYI 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-22 | NYI 1–3 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-17 | NYI 2–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TORSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.8 pts
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or William Nylander in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 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 William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 20 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 Nylander done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 10–11. Barzal had 24 points (8 goals) and Nylander had 18 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Nylander?
- Against each other, Barzal has won 7 and Nylander 8 of their 15 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 →