Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Sanderson vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Sanderson had 54 points in 67 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Sanderson has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Sanderson for 1.7 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Sanderson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Fenwick 57.8%, Top skating speed 24.4.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hits 105, Shorthanded points 2, Penalty minutes 14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Sanderson
2.40
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.31
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Sanderson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Sanderson | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 0.84 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.60 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 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: Sanderson 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.
Sanderson 1G 3A, 18 SOG · Zibanejad 3G 10A, 32 SOG
Sanderson blocked 2 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 3 of Sanderson's.
On the ice against each other (Sanderson's side)
17:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Sanderson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–22
- 29.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.1
- 31.3%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Sanderson | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-14 | OTT 8–4 NYR | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2025-12-04 | OTT 2–4 NYR | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-03-08 | OTT 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-21 | OTT 0–5 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-01 | OTT 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-15 | OTT 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-27 | OTT 2–7 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-12-05 | OTT 6–2 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-02 | OTT 5–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-12-02 | OTT 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-30 | OTT 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
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 Sanderson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
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 Sanderson or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Sanderson had 54 points in 67 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 Sanderson or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Sanderson and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Sanderson's team went 5–6. Sanderson had 4 points (1 goals) and Zibanejad had 13 (3 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 →