Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 38, Transition attempts /60 1.40, Plus/minus −7.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 124, High-danger chances 53.8%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.07.
Head to head on the dot, Lindholm leads Zibanejad 41–39.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 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
Elias Lindholm
1.78
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 | Lindholm | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 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: Lindholm vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lindholm 4G 10A, 22 SOG · Zibanejad 8G 10A, 54 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 20–14 · neutral 13–11 · Lindholm's defensive zone 8–14 (2017-18 to 2026-27)
Lindholm blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
27:31 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 33–19
- 63.5%
- Expected goals
- 2.2–0.7
- 76.8%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | BOS 3–0 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-26 | BOS 3–4 NYR | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-10 | BOS 10–2 NYR | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-28 | BOS 2–6 NYR | 0G 2A 2S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2025-02-05 | BOS 2–3 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-02-01 | BOS 6–3 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-02 | BOS 1–2 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-24 | CGY 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-06 | CGY 4–5 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 1A 8S |
| 2021-11-06 | CGY 6–0 NYR | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-10-25 | CGY 5–1 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-01-02 | CGY 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
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 Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 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, Elias Lindholm or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 8–9. Lindholm had 14 points (4 goals) and Zibanejad had 18 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 41 and Zibanejad 39 of their 80 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 →