Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Nico Hischier
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Hischier had 66 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hischier has 1 left. We project Hischier for 1.9 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Luck Meter +50, On-ice PDO 1052, Goals above expected +3.0.
Hischier's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.30, Power-play share 76.5%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.28.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Cirelli 70–55.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Hischier |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.39 |
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 Hischier
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 4G 10A, 41 SOG · Hischier 5G 9A, 50 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 13–20 · neutral 21–22 · Cirelli's defensive zone 21–28 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 2 of Hischier's shots; Hischier blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
16:07 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–22
- 45.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–1.7
- 35.4%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Hischier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-11 | TBL 8–4 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-18 | TBL 5–1 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-11 | TBL 3–5 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-11 | TBL 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-16 | TBL 4–0 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-22 | TBL 8–5 NJD | 0G 4A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-25 | TBL 4–1 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-27 | TBL 6–3 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-01-11 | TBL 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-19 | TBL 2–5 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-16 | TBL 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2023-03-14 | TBL 4–1 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 26 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)
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Nico Hischier in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Hischier had 66 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 Nico Hischier?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 21 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 Hischier done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 19–7. Cirelli had 14 points (4 goals) and Hischier had 14 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Hischier?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 55 and Hischier 70 of their 125 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 →