Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60, Top skating speed 22.7.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Luck Meter +47, Scoring chances 50.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Pettersson 24–23.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 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: Pettersson 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.
Pettersson 4G 10A, 25 SOG · Zibanejad 7G 8A, 28 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 9–10 · neutral 7–10 · Pettersson's defensive zone 7–4 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Pettersson blocked 0 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 1 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
7:55 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–8
- 27.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 12.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | VAN 0–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-22 | VAN 3–5 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-19 | VAN 3–4 NYR | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-08 | VAN 6–3 NYR | 2G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-10-28 | VAN 3–4 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2023-02-15 | VAN 4–6 NYR | 0G 2A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-08 | VAN 3–4 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-27 | VAN 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-11-02 | VAN 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2020-01-04 | VAN 2–1 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-20 | VAN 3–2 NYR | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2019-03-13 | VAN 4–1 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
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.
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
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 Pettersson or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Pettersson had 51 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, Elias Pettersson or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 6–7. Pettersson had 14 points (4 goals) and Zibanejad had 15 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 23 and Zibanejad 24 of their 47 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 →