Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Dvorak has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Dvorak's 1.1.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Plus/minus +11, Penalty minutes 27, On-ice PDO 1027.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Hardest shot 96.4, Hits 105.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Dvorak 30–29.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
1.42
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Dvorak | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.34 |
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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Dvorak 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.
Dvorak 3G 6A, 23 SOG · Zibanejad 8G 6A, 37 SOG
Dvorak's offensive zone 8–10 · neutral 13–9 · Dvorak's defensive zone 8–11 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Dvorak blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Dvorak's.
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
18:02 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–20
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.2
- 31.2%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-09 | PHI 2–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2026-02-26 | PHI 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-17 | PHI 3–6 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-19 | MTL 5–4 NYR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | MTL 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-22 | MTL 2–7 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-15 | MTL 2–1 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-05 | MTL 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-16 | MTL 2–3 NYR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-10-16 | MTL 1–3 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2019-10-22 | ARI 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-01-06 | ARI 1–2 NYR | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Christian Dvorak
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to CLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.1 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
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 Christian Dvorak or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42. Dvorak had 51 points in 80 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, Christian Dvorak or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dvorak and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 4–9. Dvorak had 9 points (3 goals) and Zibanejad had 14 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Dvorak or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Dvorak has won 29 and Zibanejad 30 of their 59 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 →