Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Vilardi has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Vilardi for 1.6 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, Penalty minutes 24.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Goals above expected +3.3, Hits 105.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
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 | Vilardi | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Vilardi vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vilardi 5G 1A, 13 SOG · Zibanejad 3G 3A, 12 SOG
Vilardi's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–0 · Vilardi's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
6:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–5
- 58.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 67.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | WPG 3–2 NYR | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-03-12 | WPG 3–6 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-11 | WPG 2–1 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-12 | WPG 6–3 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-26 | LAK 2–5 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-11-22 | LAK 3–5 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
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.
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.6 ptsLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule 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 Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76. Vilardi had 69 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, Gabriel Vilardi or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vilardi and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 3–3. Vilardi had 6 points (5 goals) and Zibanejad had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Vilardi or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Vilardi has won 2 and Zibanejad 0 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 →