Who to start · 2025-26
Mike Matheson vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Matheson has 1 game left; Byfield has 1 left. We project Matheson for 1.8 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.6.
Quinton Byfield has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matheson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.035, Luck Meter +18.
Byfield's biggest edges: Corsi 53.1%, High-danger chances 52.4%, Scoring chances 53.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matheson | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 0.32 |
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 Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matheson 1G 1A, 13 SOG · Byfield 3G 7A, 20 SOG
On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)
12:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–17
- 41.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–1.3
- 40.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matheson | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | MTL 4–3 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-11 | MTL 1–5 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-02-05 | MTL 3–6 LAK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2024-10-17 | MTL 1–4 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-07 | MTL 0–4 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-25 | MTL 0–4 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-02 | MTL 2–3 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-01-30 | PIT 3–4 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.8 pts
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mike Matheson or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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 Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinton Byfield leads in 23 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 Byfield done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 1–7. Matheson had 2 points (1 goals) and Byfield had 10 (3 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 →