Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs Zach Hyman
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hyman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hyman for 1.5 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Zach Hyman has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 210, Blocked shots 50, Assists 53.
Hyman's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.5, Transition attempts /60 1.55, High-danger chances 57.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Zach Hyman
2.09
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Hyman has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Hyman |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 1.07 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.36 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.16 |
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 Hyman
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 4G 8A, 32 SOG · Hyman 5G 4A, 45 SOG
Barzal blocked 2 of Hyman's shots; Hyman blocked 0 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
4:32 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–7
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.7
- 42.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Hyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | NYI 1–0 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-19 | NYI 3–1 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-13 | NYI 1–4 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-05 | NYI 2–4 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-23 | NYI 3–0 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 10S |
| 2022-02-11 | NYI 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-01 | NYI 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-04 | NYI 0–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-11-13 | NYI 5–4 TOR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-04-01 | NYI 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-02-28 | NYI 6–1 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-30 | NYI 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 14 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 CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Zach Hyman
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or Zach Hyman in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 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 Zach Hyman?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Hyman leads in 18 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 Hyman done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 6–8. Barzal had 12 points (4 goals) and Hyman had 9 (5 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 →