Who to start · 2025-26
Mike Matheson vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly 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; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Matheson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; O'Reilly has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project O'Reilly for 2.0 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Ryan O'Reilly has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matheson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 100.6, Top skating speed 22.8, Hits 59.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, High-danger chances 53.8%, Corsi 52.6%.
- • 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, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan O'Reilly has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matheson | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 0.38 |
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 O'Reilly
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 3G 4A, 31 SOG · O'Reilly 4G 7A, 35 SOG
Matheson blocked 1 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 2 of Matheson's.
On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)
11:17 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 31.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matheson | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | MTL 4–1 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | MTL 3–2 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-06 | MTL 2–1 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-05 | MTL 4–3 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2023-12-10 | MTL 1–2 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-08 | MTL 1–7 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | MTL 1–5 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-17 | PIT 3–2 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-05 | PIT 5–3 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-03-09 | FLA 2–1 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-02-05 | FLA 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2018-12-11 | FLA 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 16 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 DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mike Matheson or Ryan O'Reilly in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly 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; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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 Ryan O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan O'Reilly leads in 24 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 O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 11–5. Matheson had 7 points (3 goals) and O'Reilly had 11 (4 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 →