Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Tuch vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Tuch has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left. We project Tuch for 2.3 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 2.3.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tuch's biggest edges: Plus/minus +24, Penalty minutes 57, On-ice PDO 1044.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 43.4%, Power-play share 77.5%, Faceoffs won 574.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Tuch
2.42
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Tuch has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tuch | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.03 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 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: Tuch vs Zibanejad
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.
Tuch 7G 5A, 46 SOG · Zibanejad 10G 10A, 49 SOG
Tuch's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 1–0 · Tuch's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Tuch blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 1 of Tuch's.
On the ice against each other (Tuch's side)
13:33 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tuch's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–19
- 36.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.6
- 38.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tuch | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-08 | BUF 5–3 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | BUF 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | BUF 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-22 | BUF 8–2 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-11 | BUF 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-07 | BUF 6–1 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-23 | BUF 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2023-11-27 | BUF 5–1 NYR | 2G 0A 8S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-12 | BUF 1–5 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2023-04-10 | BUF 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-31 | BUF 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-27 | BUF 4–5 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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 Tuch
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B2.3 pts
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA2.3 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Tuch or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Tuch projects to 2.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Tuch had 66 points in 79 games; Zibanejad had 78 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, Alex Tuch or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tuch and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Tuch's team went 11–7. Tuch had 12 points (7 goals) and Zibanejad had 20 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tuch or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Tuch has won 3 and Zibanejad 1 of their 4 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 →