Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Anthony Cirelli
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Cirelli had 52 in 71 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cirelli has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.78, Power-play time per game 3:17, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Ascension score 55, Scoring chances 55.6%, High-danger chances 56.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Cirelli |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.37 |
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: DeBrincat vs Cirelli
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
DeBrincat 14G 14A, 78 SOG · Cirelli 8G 8A, 58 SOG
DeBrincat's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–0 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2020-21 to 2024-25)
DeBrincat blocked 2 of Cirelli's shots; Cirelli blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
21:22 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–20
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–0.8
- 63.9%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Cirelli |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | DET 3–4 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-12 | DET 1–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-28 | DET 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-17 | DET 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-11 | DET 4–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-08 | DET 3–6 TBL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-25 | DET 2–0 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | DET 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-01 | DET 4–2 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-21 | DET 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-14 | DET 6–4 TBL | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-04-08 | OTT 7–4 TBL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Anthony Cirelli in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Cirelli had 52 in 71 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, Alex DeBrincat or Anthony Cirelli?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Cirelli done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 10–17. DeBrincat had 28 points (14 goals) and Cirelli had 16 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Cirelli?
- Against each other, DeBrincat has won 1 and Cirelli 1 of their 2 head-to-head draws.
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 →