Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Wyatt Johnston
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Johnston has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Johnston for 2.5 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Corsi 56.1%, Fenwick 55.1%, Plus/minus +38.
Johnston's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.34, Offensive-zone time 44.2%, Power-play share 74.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Johnston leads Cirelli 20–10.
- • 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, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Wyatt Johnston
2.41
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Wyatt Johnston has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 1.03 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.35 |
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 Johnston
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 8G 2A, 27 SOG · Johnston 0G 2A, 18 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 6–5 · neutral 0–5 · Cirelli's defensive zone 4–10 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 0 of Johnston's shots; Johnston blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
9:43 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–11
- 56.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.9
- 38.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-18 | TBL 4–1 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-30 | TBL 2–1 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-20 | TBL 3–2 DAL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-23 | TBL 2–4 DAL | 2G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-04 | TBL 4–0 DAL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-02 | TBL 1–8 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-11 | TBL 3–1 DAL | 2G 1A 5S | 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)
1.2proj. 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)
Wyatt Johnston
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.5 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Wyatt Johnston in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Johnston had 86 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 Wyatt Johnston?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 20 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 Johnston done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 5–2. Cirelli had 10 points (8 goals) and Johnston had 2 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Johnston?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 10 and Johnston 20 of their 30 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 →