Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Filip Forsberg 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 Filip Forsberg's 2.16.

Forsberg had 75 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Forsberg has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Forsberg for 2.0 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.5.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Forsberg's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.98, Plus/minus −2, Penalty minutes 34.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 574, 20+ mph bursts 124, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Filip Forsberg

2.16

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromForsbergZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.910.81
Assists (+1)0.460.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.150.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.290.25
Hits (+0.1)0.150.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.34

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: Forsberg 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.

ForsbergZibanejad
8Team record in 13 meetings5
13Points in those games9

Forsberg 4G 9A, 42 SOG · Zibanejad 2G 7A, 38 SOG

0Faceoffs against each other2

Forsberg's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–2 · Forsberg's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)

2Shots blocked by the other0

Forsberg blocked 2 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Forsberg's.

On the ice against each other (Forsberg's side)

21:59 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Forsberg's side

Shot attempts
23–15
60.5%
Expected goals
1.1–0.3
78.2%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Filip Forsberg and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreForsbergZibanejad
2025-12-21NSH 2–1 NYR1G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2025-11-10NSH 3–6 NYR0G 1A 5S1G 0A 3S
2025-03-02NSH 0–4 NYR0G 0A 2S0G 2A 2S
2024-12-17NSH 2–0 NYR0G 2A 5S0G 0A 2S
2023-12-02NSH 3–4 NYR0G 0A 3S0G 1A 0S
2023-10-19NSH 4–1 NYR1G 1A 6S0G 1A 3S
2022-11-12NSH 2–1 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 5S
2021-12-12NSH 1–0 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 5S
2021-10-21NSH 1–3 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 5S
2019-12-16NSH 5–2 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 2A 7S
2018-10-04NSH 3–2 NYR1G 0A 4S0G 1A 2S
2018-02-03NSH 5–2 NYR0G 2A 4S1G 0A 4S

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.

ForsbergZibanejad

Fantasy box score

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.

Filip Forsberg

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 pts
    Schedule edge +12.5 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

FAQ

Should I start Filip Forsberg 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 Filip Forsberg's 2.16. Forsberg had 75 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, Filip Forsberg or Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Forsberg and Zibanejad done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Forsberg's team went 8–5. Forsberg had 13 points (4 goals) and Zibanejad had 9 (2 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Forsberg or Zibanejad?
Against each other, Forsberg has won 0 and Zibanejad 2 of their 2 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 →