Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Chandler Stephenson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Stephenson had 49 in 80 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Stephenson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Corsi 56.1%, Sequence xG 56.9%.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.23, Top skating speed 23.3, Power-play share 65.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads Cirelli 26–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Stephenson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.50 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.33 |
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: Cirelli vs Stephenson
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.
Cirelli 6G 6A, 30 SOG · Stephenson 1G 5A, 18 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 7–7 · neutral 11–8 · Cirelli's defensive zone 7–11 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Stephenson's shots; Stephenson blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
3:40 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–1
- 88.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 99.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Stephenson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | TBL 3–4 SEA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-03-17 | TBL 6–2 SEA | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-23 | TBL 4–1 SEA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | TBL 5–1 SEA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-19 | TBL 5–3 VGK | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-21 | TBL 5–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-09 | TBL 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | TBL 4–5 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-21 | TBL 4–3 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-02-20 | TBL 3–5 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-04 | TBL 4–2 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-11-29 | TBL 3–4 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
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)
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Chandler Stephenson 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 Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Stephenson had 49 in 80 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, Anthony Cirelli or Chandler Stephenson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Stephenson done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 12–10. Cirelli had 12 points (6 goals) and Stephenson had 6 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Stephenson?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 25 and Stephenson 26 of their 51 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 →