Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Larkin 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 Dylan Larkin's 2.13.
Larkin had 67 points in 74 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Larkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Larkin for 2.2 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 23 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Larkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +3, Penalty minutes 48, Transition attempts /60 1.39.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, High-danger chances 53.8%, Luck Meter +47.
Head to head on the dot, Larkin leads Zibanejad 99–60.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Larkin
2.13
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 | Larkin | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.92 | 0.84 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Larkin 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.
Larkin 4G 7A, 73 SOG · Zibanejad 9G 13A, 56 SOG
Larkin's offensive zone 48–21 · neutral 24–18 · Larkin's defensive zone 27–21 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Larkin's side)
14:27 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Larkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–9
- 67.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.5
- 57.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Larkin | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | DET 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-16 | DET 2–1 NYR | 0G 1A 7S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-07 | DET 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-11-09 | DET 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-17 | DET 2–5 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-14 | DET 1–4 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-04-05 | DET 3–4 NYR | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-11-07 | DET 3–5 NYR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-23 | DET 4–1 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-10 | DET 2–8 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-06 | DET 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-16 | DET 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Dylan Larkin
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
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 Dylan Larkin 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 Dylan Larkin's 2.13. Larkin had 67 points in 74 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, Dylan Larkin or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 23 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Larkin and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Larkin's team went 8–13. Larkin had 11 points (4 goals) and Zibanejad had 22 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Larkin or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Larkin has won 99 and Zibanejad 60 of their 159 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 →