Who to start · 2025-26
Mike Matheson vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Matheson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Rickard Rakell has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matheson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.035, Penalty minutes 34, Faceoffs won 0.
Rakell's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Offensive-zone time 44.6%, High-danger chances 52.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matheson | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 0.34 |
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 Rakell
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.
Matheson 1G 6A, 30 SOG · Rakell 6G 8A, 43 SOG
Matheson blocked 4 of Rakell's shots; Rakell blocked 0 of Matheson's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)
10:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–21
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–1.3
- 10.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matheson | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | MTL 3–4 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-20 | MTL 4–0 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-12 | MTL 2–9 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 2A 4S |
| 2024-11-02 | MTL 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-14 | MTL 3–6 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-22 | MTL 1–4 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-27 | MTL 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-03-14 | MTL 6–4 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2022-01-11 | PIT 4–1 ANA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-12-11 | PIT 1–0 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-11-21 | FLA 5–4 ANA | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-03-17 | FLA 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
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 Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mike Matheson or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80. Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 22 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 Rakell done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 6–9. Matheson had 7 points (1 goals) and Rakell had 14 (6 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 →