Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares 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 John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 2.3 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.8.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 28, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Draw Equity /100 +0.071.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Blocked shots 50, High-danger chances 53.8%.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Zibanejad 65–63.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
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 | Tavares | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Tavares 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.
Tavares 5G 13A, 88 SOG · Zibanejad 12G 11A, 71 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 34–29 · neutral 17–20 · Tavares's defensive zone 14–14 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Tavares blocked 2 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
8:36 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–10
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 25.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-25 | TOR 4–3 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 10S |
| 2026-03-05 | TOR 2–6 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | TOR 2–1 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-20 | TOR 4–3 NYR | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-28 | TOR 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-19 | TOR 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | TOR 4–3 NYR | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | TOR 2–5 NYR | 0G 0A 5S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-12 | TOR 7–3 NYR | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-25 | TOR 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-15 | TOR 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-19 | TOR 3–6 NYR | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 2A 0S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA2.3 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares 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 John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 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, John Tavares or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 14–10. Tavares had 18 points (5 goals) and Zibanejad had 23 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 65 and Zibanejad 63 of their 128 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 →