Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Plus/minus 0, Penalty minutes 26, Top skating speed 22.8.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 574, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Hits 105.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.31
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.84 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.31 |
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: Rust vs Zibanejad
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.
Rust 9G 13A, 111 SOG · Zibanejad 13G 23A, 115 SOG
Rust's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · Rust's defensive zone 0–0 (2020-21)
Rust blocked 2 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 4 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
9:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–10
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 19.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | PIT 2–3 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-11 | PIT 1–6 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-07 | PIT 3–2 NYR | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-06 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-01 | PIT 5–2 NYR | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | PIT 4–7 NYR | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-18 | PIT 0–6 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2023-03-16 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-12 | PIT 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-20 | PIT 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-05-15 · PO | PIT 3–4 NYR | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2022-05-13 · PO | PIT 3–5 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 2A 6S |
Latest 12 of 35 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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 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, Bryan Rust or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 35 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 18–17. Rust had 22 points (9 goals) and Zibanejad had 36 (13 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rust or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Rust has won 0 and Zibanejad 2 of their 2 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 →