Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Guentzel 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 Jake Guentzel's 2.21.
Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Guentzel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Guentzel for 1.5 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Jake Guentzel has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Penalty minutes 61, Ascension score 53.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Hits 105, Faceoff win % 52.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Guentzel 12–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Guentzel
2.21
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 | Guentzel | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 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: Guentzel vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Guentzel 21G 13A, 156 SOG · Zibanejad 16G 31A, 138 SOG
Guentzel's offensive zone 7–5 · neutral 0–4 · Guentzel's defensive zone 2–3 (2017-18 to 2026-27)
Guentzel blocked 0 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 1 of Guentzel's.
On the ice against each other (Guentzel's side)
14:12 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Guentzel's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–6
- 76.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 75.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Guentzel | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | TBL 1–5 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-11-29 | TBL 4–1 NYR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-12 | TBL 3–7 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | TBL 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-07 | TBL 5–1 NYR | 0G 3A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-28 | TBL 6–2 NYR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | CAR 3–5 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-13 · PO | CAR 4–1 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-11 · PO | CAR 4–3 NYR | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-09 · PO | CAR 2–3 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-07 · PO | CAR 3–4 NYR | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-05-05 · PO | CAR 3–4 NYR | 0G 1A 5S | 2G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 44 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.
Jake Guentzel
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Jake Guentzel 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 Jake Guentzel's 2.21. Guentzel had 88 points in 81 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, Jake Guentzel or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Guentzel leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Guentzel and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 44 games against each other in our data, Guentzel's team went 22–22. Guentzel had 34 points (21 goals) and Zibanejad had 47 (16 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Guentzel or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Guentzel has won 9 and Zibanejad 12 of their 21 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 →