Who to start · 2025-26
Cutter Gauthier 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 Cutter Gauthier's 2.18.
Gauthier had 69 points in 76 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Gauthier has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Gauthier for 1.7 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.5.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.
Gauthier's biggest edges: Ascension score 63, Transition attempts /60 3.19, Fenwick 54.6%.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, High-danger chances 53.8%, Faceoffs won 574.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cutter Gauthier
2.18
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 | Gauthier | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.01 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Gauthier vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Gauthier 3G 1A, 9 SOG · Zibanejad 1G 1A, 6 SOG
Gauthier's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Gauthier's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Gauthier's side)
4:06 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Gauthier's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–3
- 72.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.0
- 98.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Gauthier | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | ANA 5–3 NYR | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-28 | ANA 5–4 NYR | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-26 | ANA 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Cutter Gauthier
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.7 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cutter Gauthier 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 Cutter Gauthier's 2.18. Gauthier had 69 points in 76 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, Cutter Gauthier or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Gauthier and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Gauthier's team went 2–1. Gauthier had 4 points (3 goals) and Zibanejad had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Gauthier or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Gauthier has won 0 and Zibanejad 1 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 →