Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Eriksson Ek 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 Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Ascension score 53, Penalty minutes 32.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.27.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Zibanejad 51–40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
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 | Eriksson Ek | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Eriksson Ek 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.
Eriksson Ek 2G 4A, 36 SOG · Zibanejad 2G 4A, 27 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 21–11 · neutral 19–20 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 11–9 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
7:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–11
- 42.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.4
- 44.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | MIN 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-20 | MIN 3–1 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-09 | MIN 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-04 | MIN 5–4 NYR | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-10 | MIN 3–4 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-13 | MIN 3–7 NYR | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-03-08 | MIN 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-28 | MIN 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2020-02-13 | MIN 3–4 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-02-21 | MIN 4–1 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-02-23 | MIN 4–1 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-02-13 | MIN 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
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 Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 7–5. Eriksson Ek had 6 points (2 goals) and Zibanejad had 6 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 51 and Zibanejad 40 of their 91 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 →