Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Anthony Cirelli vs Joel Eriksson Ek

Anthony CirelliAnthony CirelliLightning · CentrevsJoel Eriksson EkJoel Eriksson EkWild · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.

Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.

This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Eriksson Ek for 1.3 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.

Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Cirelli's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Goals above expected +3.0, High-danger chances 56.6%.

Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.35, Offensive-zone time 44.4%, Power-play time per game 3:29.

Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Eriksson Ek 36–29.

  • • 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, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Anthony Cirelli

1.67

fantasy points per game

Joel Eriksson Ek

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromCirelliEriksson Ek
Goals (+2)0.610.51
Assists (+1)0.380.43
Power-play points (+0.5)0.030.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.030.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.180.28
Hits (+0.1)0.070.15
Blocks (+0.5)0.370.23

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 Eriksson Ek

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.

CirelliEriksson Ek
5Team record in 13 meetings8
7Points in those games9

Cirelli 4G 3A, 20 SOG · Eriksson Ek 8G 1A, 44 SOG

36Faceoffs against each other29

Cirelli's offensive zone 11–8 · neutral 14–11 · Cirelli's defensive zone 11–10 (2018-19 to 2025-26)

On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)

11:53 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side

Shot attempts
9–8
52.9%
Expected goals
0.5–0.4
58.0%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Anthony Cirelli and Joel Eriksson Ek
DateScoreCirelliEriksson Ek
2026-03-24TBL 6–3 MIN0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2026-03-03TBL 1–5 MIN0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2024-11-01TBL 3–5 MIN0G 0A 0S1G 0A 1S
2024-10-24TBL 2–4 MIN0G 1A 2S1G 0A 3S
2024-01-18TBL 7–3 MIN2G 1A 3S1G 0A 6S
2024-01-04TBL 4–1 MIN0G 0A 1S0G 0A 5S
2023-01-24TBL 4–2 MIN0G 0A 2S1G 1A 4S
2023-01-04TBL 1–5 MIN0G 0A 2S1G 0A 4S
2021-11-28TBL 2–4 MIN0G 0A 1S0G 0A 4S
2021-11-21TBL 5–4 MIN2G 0A 5S1G 0A 4S
2020-01-16TBL 2–3 MIN0G 1A 0S1G 0A 1S
2019-12-05TBL 4–5 MIN0G 0A 0S1G 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.

CirelliEriksson Ek

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ NYR
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 pts
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

Joel Eriksson Ek

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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 Joel Eriksson Ek?
On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 20 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 Eriksson Ek done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 5–8. Cirelli had 7 points (4 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 9 (8 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Eriksson Ek?
Against each other, Cirelli has won 36 and Eriksson Ek 29 of their 65 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 →