Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Provorov 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 Ivan Provorov's 1.56.
Provorov had 31 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Provorov has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Provorov's 1.1.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Provorov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +14, Transition attempts /60 0.49, Penalty minutes 32.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 43.4%, Hits 105, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Provorov
1.56
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.31
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Provorov | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.22 | 0.84 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.27 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.82 | 0.31 |
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: Provorov 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.
Provorov 3G 10A, 72 SOG · Zibanejad 16G 22A, 111 SOG
Provorov blocked 10 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 6 of Provorov's.
On the ice against each other (Provorov's side)
22:25 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Provorov's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–26
- 39.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.7
- 55.9%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Provorov | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | CBJ 6–3 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-02 | CBJ 5–4 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-11-15 | CBJ 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-03-15 | CBJ 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-09 | CBJ 7–3 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-02-08 | CBJ 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | CBJ 0–1 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-28 | CBJ 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-25 | CBJ 4–2 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-12 | CBJ 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-14 | CBJ 5–3 NYR | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-01 | PHI 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 37 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.
Ivan Provorov
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 8th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.1 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
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 Ivan Provorov 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 Ivan Provorov's 1.56. Provorov had 31 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, Ivan Provorov or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Provorov and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Provorov's team went 19–18. Provorov had 13 points (3 goals) and Zibanejad had 38 (16 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 →