Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Strome 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 Strome's 1.72.
Strome had 58 points in 80 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Strome has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Strome for 1.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Strome's biggest edges: Plus/minus +2, Penalty minutes 46, Ascension score 55.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Hits 105, Hardest shot 96.4.
Head to head on the dot, Strome leads Zibanejad 51–45.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Strome
1.72
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 | Strome | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.45 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Strome vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Strome 4G 12A, 39 SOG · Zibanejad 7G 22A, 63 SOG
Strome's offensive zone 27–23 · neutral 10–17 · Strome's defensive zone 14–5 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Strome blocked 0 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 1 of Strome's.
On the ice against each other (Strome's side)
20:28 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Strome's side
- Shot attempts
- 28–25
- 52.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–1.3
- 45.5%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Strome | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | WSH 1–8 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2025-12-31 | WSH 6–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-23 | WSH 3–7 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-10-12 | WSH 1–0 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2025-03-05 | WSH 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-04 | WSH 7–4 NYR | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-29 | WSH 5–3 NYR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-28 · PO | WSH 2–4 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-04-26 · PO | WSH 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | WSH 3–4 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2024-04-21 · PO | WSH 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-14 | WSH 1–2 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 23 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 Strome
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
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 Strome 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 Strome's 1.72. Strome had 58 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, Dylan Strome or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Strome and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Strome's team went 9–14. Strome had 16 points (4 goals) and Zibanejad had 29 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Strome or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Strome has won 51 and Zibanejad 45 of their 96 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 →