Who to start · 2025-26
Casey Cizikas vs Colton Dach
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Colton Dach projects to 1.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Casey Cizikas's 0.87.
Cizikas had 18 points in 81 games; Dach had 13 in 61 games.
This week Cizikas has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Dach has 2 left with 2 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Dach for 2.0 to Cizikas's 1.6 over the games left.
Casey Cizikas has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cizikas's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.46, Hardest shot 89.1, 20+ mph bursts 130.
Dach's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 52, Power-play share 31.7%, Transition attempts /60 1.30.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Casey Cizikas rates ahead, -2.0 to -2.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Cizikas is cooling, ixG/60 0.04 (was 0.93); Dach is rising, +4:33 TOI a game.
- • Cizikas, 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.
- • Dach has played 5 of the Oilers' 9 games since Sep 29 (in and out of the lineup).
- • Dach, 2026-27 so far: 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 12 SOG.
New York Islanders · Edmonton Oilers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Casey Cizikas
-2.0
category z-score total
Colton Dach
-2.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Casey Cizikas has the edge (Cizikas wins 3, Dach wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Cizikas | Dach |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.12 | 0.06 |
| Assists / game | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.14 | -0.38 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.91 | 1.31 |
| Hits / game | 1.68 | 3.34 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Cizikas vs Dach
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cizikas 0G 0A, 0 SOG · Dach 0G 0A, 0 SOG
Cizikas's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Cizikas's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cizikas's side)
5:01 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cizikas's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–4
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 51.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cizikas | Dach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-30 | NYI 3–2 CHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Casey Cizikas
3games (2 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs ANA
- Thu, Oct 22 vs LAK0.9 pts
- Sun, Oct 25 @ DAL0.7 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
Colton Dach
3games (2 left)
2.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs MINOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to Cvs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR1.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Casey Cizikas or Colton Dach in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Colton Dach projects to 1.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Casey Cizikas's 0.87. Cizikas had 18 points in 81 games; Dach had 13 in 61 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, Casey Cizikas or Colton Dach?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Casey Cizikas leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cizikas and Dach done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Cizikas's team went 1–0. Cizikas had 0 points (0 goals) and Dach had 0 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cizikas or Dach?
- Against each other, Cizikas has won 1 and Dach 0 of their 1 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 →