Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Anthony Cirelli
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Cirelli had 52 in 71 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left; Cirelli has 1 left. We project Cirelli for 1.7 ESPN points to Protas's 1.6.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.46, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30, Top skating speed 23.1.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002, Penalty minutes 48, Faceoffs won 518.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Cirelli |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 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: Protas vs Cirelli
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.
Protas 2G 3A, 20 SOG · Cirelli 2G 7A, 12 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 2–1 · Protas's defensive zone 2–1 (2021-22 to 2023-24)
Protas blocked 0 of Cirelli's shots; Cirelli blocked 1 of Protas's.
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
7:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–5
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.6
- 55.6%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Cirelli |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-22 | WSH 3–5 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-14 | WSH 3–2 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-01 | WSH 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | WSH 5–4 TBL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-26 | WSH 0–3 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-13 | WSH 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | WSH 5–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-23 | WSH 1–2 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-30 | WSH 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2021-11-01 | WSH 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.6 pts
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Anthony Cirelli in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 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, Aliaksei Protas or Anthony Cirelli?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli 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 Protas and Cirelli done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 4–6. Protas had 5 points (2 goals) and Cirelli had 9 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Cirelli?
- Against each other, Protas has won 4 and Cirelli 2 of their 6 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 →