Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell 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 Esa Lindell's 1.72.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: Plus/minus +30, Expected goals 54.9%, Sequence xG 54.7%.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, 20+ mph bursts 124.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
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 | Lindell | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Lindell 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.
Lindell 1G 4A, 20 SOG · Zibanejad 3G 8A, 42 SOG
Lindell blocked 2 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 1 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
14:43 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–18
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.4
- 7.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | DAL 2–0 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-02 | DAL 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-07 | DAL 5–4 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-20 | DAL 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-20 | DAL 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-20 | DAL 6–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-12 | DAL 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-29 | DAL 3–6 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2022-03-12 | DAL 4–7 NYR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-14 | DAL 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2020-03-10 | DAL 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2020-02-03 | DAL 5–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 Esa Lindell 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 Esa Lindell's 1.72. Lindell had 32 points in 82 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, Esa Lindell or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindell and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 7–8. Lindell had 5 points (1 goals) and Zibanejad had 11 (3 goals).
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 →