Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin 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 Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Goals above expected +5.8, Hits 105.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Malkin 51–44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
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 | Malkin | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Malkin 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.
Malkin 11G 19A, 80 SOG · Zibanejad 12G 21A, 119 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 18–21 · neutral 14–22 · Malkin's defensive zone 12–8 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Malkin blocked 0 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 2 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
16:59 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–18
- 58.1%
- Expected goals
- 1.7–1.0
- 63.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | PIT 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-31 | PIT 6–5 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-11 | PIT 1–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-07 | PIT 3–0 NYR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2025-02-23 | PIT 3–5 NYR | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-06 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-09 | PIT 0–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-01 | PIT 5–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | PIT 4–7 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-22 | PIT 0–1 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-18 | PIT 0–6 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2023-03-16 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 36 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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Evgeni Malkin 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 Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin 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 Malkin and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 18–18. Malkin had 30 points (11 goals) and Zibanejad had 33 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 44 and Zibanejad 51 of their 95 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 →