Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Mathew Barzal vs Mika Zibanejad

Mathew BarzalMathew BarzalIslanders · CentrevsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.

Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.5 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.

Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Penalty minutes 61, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.3, Hardest shot 96.4, Faceoff win % 52.5%.

Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Barzal 31–20.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mathew Barzal

1.82

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.31

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBarzalZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.470.84
Assists (+1)0.650.54
Power-play points (+0.5)0.120.22
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.230.27
Hits (+0.1)0.040.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.310.31

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: Barzal 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.

BarzalZibanejad
22Team record in 35 meetings13
37Points in those games23

Barzal 11G 26A, 83 SOG · Zibanejad 8G 15A, 124 SOG

20Faceoffs against each other31

Barzal's offensive zone 6–7 · neutral 9–16 · Barzal's defensive zone 5–8 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

0Hits on each other2
1Penalties drawn off the other0

On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)

23:13 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side

Shot attempts
15–26
36.6%
Expected goals
0.2–1.2
16.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Mathew Barzal and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreBarzalZibanejad
2026-01-29NYI 2–1 NYR0G 0A 1S1G 0A 5S
2026-01-28NYI 5–2 NYR1G 0A 5S1G 0A 2S
2025-12-27NYI 2–0 NYR0G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S
2025-11-08NYI 5–0 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 6S
2024-04-13NYI 2–3 NYR0G 0A 4S0G 1A 8S
2024-04-09NYI 4–2 NYR0G 1A 5S0G 1A 4S
2024-03-17NYI 2–5 NYR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 2S
2024-02-18NYI 5–6 NYR1G 0A 3S1G 0A 6S
2022-12-22NYI 3–5 NYR1G 1A 2S0G 1A 3S
2022-11-08NYI 4–3 NYR0G 1A 1S0G 1A 3S
2022-10-26NYI 3–0 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 4S
2022-04-21NYI 3–6 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 1A 2S

Latest 12 of 35 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.

BarzalZibanejad

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Mathew Barzal

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 pts
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mathew Barzal 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 Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Barzal had 72 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, Mathew Barzal or Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Barzal and Zibanejad done against each other?
In 35 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 22–13. Barzal had 37 points (11 goals) and Zibanejad had 23 (8 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Zibanejad?
Against each other, Barzal has won 20 and Zibanejad 31 of their 51 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 →