Who to start · 2025-26
Andrei Svechnikov vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Andrei Svechnikov's 2.02.
Svechnikov had 70 points in 79 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Svechnikov has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Svechnikov for 2.1 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Svechnikov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 66, Ascension score 62, Plus/minus +1.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Faceoffs won 574, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.07.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Andrei Svechnikov
2.02
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Svechnikov | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Svechnikov vs Zibanejad
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.
Svechnikov 10G 16A, 97 SOG · Zibanejad 15G 20A, 86 SOG
Svechnikov's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Svechnikov's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23)
On the ice against each other (Svechnikov's side)
17:10 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Svechnikov's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–13
- 59.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 57.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Svechnikov | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | CAR 2–0 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-29 | CAR 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-26 | CAR 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-04 | CAR 3–0 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-12 | CAR 7–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-28 | CAR 4–0 NYR | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-22 | CAR 3–1 NYR | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-27 | CAR 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | CAR 3–5 NYR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-13 · PO | CAR 4–1 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-11 · PO | CAR 4–3 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-09 · PO | CAR 2–3 NYR | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 37 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.
Andrei Svechnikov
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B2.1 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Andrei Svechnikov or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Andrei Svechnikov's 2.02. Svechnikov had 70 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, Andrei Svechnikov 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 Svechnikov and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Svechnikov's team went 18–19. Svechnikov had 26 points (10 goals) and Zibanejad had 35 (15 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Svechnikov or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Svechnikov has won 1 and Zibanejad 0 of their 1 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 →