Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cole has 1 left. We project Cole for 1.5 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Ascension score 55, Goals above expected +3.0, On-ice PDO 1052.
Cole's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.50, Hits 73, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.87 |
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 Cole
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 4G 3A, 17 SOG · Cole 0G 5A, 11 SOG
Cirelli blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
5:29 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–12
- 29.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.5
- 51.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-26 | TBL 2–0 UTA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-02 | TBL 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-03-27 | TBL 8–0 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-22 | TBL 4–6 UTA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-12-12 | TBL 1–4 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-19 | TBL 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-29 | TBL 4–3 CAR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-03-22 | TBL 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-09 | TBL 1–2 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-17 | TBL 4–3 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-19 | TBL 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2018-12-08 | TBL 7–1 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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)
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Ian Cole 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 Ian Cole's 1.30. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Cole had 23 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 Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 26 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 Cole done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 8–5. Cirelli had 7 points (4 goals) and Cole had 5 (0 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 →