Who to start · 2025-26
Matthew Knies 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 Matthew Knies's 2.06.
Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Knies has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 2.3 ESPN points to Knies's 1.8.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Knies's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Penalty minutes 29, Hits 152.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 574, High-danger chances 53.8%, Scoring chances 50.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matthew Knies
2.06
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 | Knies | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 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: Knies 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.
Knies 3G 2A, 18 SOG · Zibanejad 6G 6A, 29 SOG
On the ice against each other (Knies's side)
14:02 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Knies's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–12
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.6
- 51.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Knies | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-25 | TOR 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 10S |
| 2026-03-05 | TOR 2–6 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | TOR 2–1 NYR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-20 | TOR 4–3 NYR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-28 | TOR 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-19 | TOR 1–4 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | TOR 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | TOR 2–5 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2023-04-13 | TOR 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 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.
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUF
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.8 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 Matthew Knies 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 Matthew Knies's 2.06. Knies had 66 points in 79 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, Matthew Knies or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Knies and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Knies's team went 6–3. Knies had 5 points (3 goals) and Zibanejad had 12 (6 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 →