Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Morgan Rielly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Morgan Rielly's 1.61.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Rielly had 36 in 78 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Rielly has 1 left. We project Cirelli for 1.7 ESPN points to Rielly's 1.6.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Expected goals 57.0%, Sequence xG 56.9%.
Rielly's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.63, Offensive-zone time 43.7%, Power-play share 59.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Morgan Rielly
1.61
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Rielly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.25 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.67 |
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 Rielly
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 6G 11A, 61 SOG · Rielly 7G 14A, 64 SOG
Cirelli blocked 6 of Rielly's shots; Rielly blocked 3 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
8:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–7
- 69.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.2
- 74.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Rielly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TBL 5–2 TOR | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-08 | TBL 0–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-09 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-20 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-21 | TBL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-03 | TBL 4–1 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-06 | TBL 5–6 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TBL 4–2 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | TBL 4–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 33 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%
Morgan Rielly
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Morgan Rielly 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 Morgan Rielly's 1.61. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Rielly had 36 in 78 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 Morgan Rielly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 20 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 Rielly done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 14–19. Cirelli had 17 points (6 goals) and Rielly had 21 (7 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 →