Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Elias Pettersson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Pettersson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Elias Pettersson has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Luck Meter +50, Corsi 56.1%.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60, Power-play share 72.8%, Hardest shot 91.8.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Pettersson 18–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.55 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.70 |
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 Pettersson
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.
Cirelli 3G 3A, 24 SOG · Pettersson 3G 3A, 28 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 4–3 · neutral 6–2 · Cirelli's defensive zone 8–5 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Pettersson's shots; Pettersson blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
2:18 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–3
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 2.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | TBL 6–2 VAN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-08 | TBL 4–2 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-15 | TBL 4–1 VAN | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-12 | TBL 1–4 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-19 | TBL 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-01-18 | TBL 5–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-01-12 | TBL 5–4 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 8S |
| 2022-01-13 | TBL 4–2 VAN | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-01-07 | TBL 9–2 VAN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-12-18 | TBL 5–2 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-11 | TBL 1–4 VAN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
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)
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Elias Pettersson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 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 Elias Pettersson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Elias Pettersson leads in 19 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 Pettersson done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 9–2. Cirelli had 6 points (3 goals) and Pettersson had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Pettersson?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 18 and Pettersson 10 of their 28 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 →