Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Kyle Connor
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Connor had 92 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Connor has 1 left. We project Connor for 2.4 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 518, Forecheck xG /60 0.37, High-danger chances 56.6%.
Connor's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.31, Offensive-zone time 43.4%, Hardest shot 90.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Kyle Connor
2.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kyle Connor has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Connor |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 1.02 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.37 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.17 |
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 Connor
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 7G 5A, 23 SOG · Connor 6G 6A, 32 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Cirelli's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
Cirelli blocked 2 of Connor's shots; Connor blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
2:15 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- —
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Connor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | TBL 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2026-01-29 | TBL 4–1 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-14 | TBL 4–1 WPG | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-03 | TBL 4–7 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-22 | TBL 2–3 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-12 | TBL 2–3 WPG | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-06 | TBL 2–4 WPG | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-16 | TBL 7–4 WPG | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-08 | TBL 4–7 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2020-01-17 | TBL 7–1 WPG | 3G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-11-16 | TBL 3–4 WPG | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2019-03-05 | TBL 5–2 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 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)
Kyle Connor
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Kyle Connor in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Connor had 92 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 Kyle Connor?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 18 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 Connor done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 5–8. Cirelli had 12 points (7 goals) and Connor had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Connor?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 1 and Connor 0 of their 1 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 →