Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Matthew Knies
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Knies has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Knies for 1.4 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Corsi 56.1%, Fenwick 55.1%.
Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20, Power-play share 68.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matthew Knies has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Knies |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.19 |
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 Knies
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 2G 5A, 39 SOG · Knies 10G 9A, 30 SOG
Cirelli blocked 1 of Knies's shots; Knies blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
13:14 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–8
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.3
- 62.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Knies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TBL 5–2 TOR | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-08 | TBL 0–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-09 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 5S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-20 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-30 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-21 | TBL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-03 | TBL 4–1 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-06 | TBL 5–6 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TBL 4–2 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | TBL 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Matthew Knies in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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 Matthew Knies?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 17 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 Knies done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 3–12. Cirelli had 7 points (2 goals) and Knies had 19 (10 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 →