Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Cirelli for 1.5 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Ascension score 55, Corsi 56.1%, Fenwick 55.1%.
Cates's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.05, Hits 102, Power-play share 44.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Cates 9–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.30 |
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 Cates
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 1G 7A, 11 SOG · Cates 1G 1A, 12 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 3–1 · neutral 3–2 · Cirelli's defensive zone 3–2 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
5:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–2
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 59.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-12 | TBL 5–1 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-10 | TBL 7–2 PHI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-24 | TBL 3–0 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-17 | TBL 2–0 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-13 | TBL 3–4 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-07 | TBL 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-09 | TBL 7–0 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-27 | TBL 2–6 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-23 | TBL 6–3 PHI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-07 | TBL 5–2 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
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)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.2 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Cates had 47 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 24 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 7–3. Cirelli had 8 points (1 goals) and Cates had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Cates?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 9 and Cates 5 of their 14 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 →