Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Esa Lindell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Lindell has 1 left. We project Cirelli for 1.7 ESPN points to Lindell's 1.7.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Ascension score 55, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002.
Lindell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.13, Power-play time per game 0:45, Blocked shots 179.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Lindell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.10 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 1.12 |
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 Lindell
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 10G 9A, 42 SOG · Lindell 1G 4A, 30 SOG
Cirelli blocked 1 of Lindell's shots; Lindell blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
11:09 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–5
- 80.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.1
- 92.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Lindell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-18 | TBL 4–1 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-30 | TBL 2–1 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-20 | TBL 3–2 DAL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-23 | TBL 2–4 DAL | 2G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-04 | TBL 4–0 DAL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-02 | TBL 1–8 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-02-11 | TBL 3–1 DAL | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-12 | TBL 0–1 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-15 | TBL 3–1 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-03-25 | TBL 3–4 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-03-23 | TBL 2–1 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-04-29 | TBL 3–0 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.7 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Esa Lindell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Lindell had 32 in 82 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 Esa Lindell?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Lindell done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 15–7. Cirelli had 19 points (10 goals) and Lindell had 5 (1 goals).
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 →