Who to start · 2025-26
Mike Matheson vs Pavel Dorofeyev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Dorofeyev projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Dorofeyev had 64 in 82 games.
This week Matheson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Dorofeyev has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Dorofeyev for 1.4 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Pavel Dorofeyev has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matheson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, 20+ mph bursts 90, Blocked shots 150.
Dorofeyev's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 47.1%, High-danger chances 59.2%, Offensive-zone start % 63.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Pavel Dorofeyev
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Pavel Dorofeyev has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matheson | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.86 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 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: Matheson vs Dorofeyev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matheson 0G 4A, 10 SOG · Dorofeyev 2G 0A, 18 SOG
Matheson blocked 1 of Dorofeyev's shots; Dorofeyev blocked 0 of Matheson's.
On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)
5:14 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–9
- 18.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 28.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matheson | Dorofeyev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-27 | MTL 3–2 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2025-11-28 | MTL 4–1 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-31 | MTL 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | MTL 2–6 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-16 | MTL 5–6 VGK | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-30 | MTL 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 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.
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Pavel Dorofeyev
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mike Matheson or Pavel Dorofeyev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Dorofeyev projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80. Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Dorofeyev had 64 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, Mike Matheson or Pavel Dorofeyev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Dorofeyev leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matheson and Dorofeyev done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 3–3. Matheson had 4 points (0 goals) and Dorofeyev had 2 (2 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 →