Who to start · 2025-26
Matthew Schaefer 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 Schaefer's 2.02.
Schaefer had 59 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Schaefer has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Schaefer for 2.4 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Schaefer's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Top skating speed 23.1, Transition attempts /60 0.60.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, High-danger chances 53.8%, Hits 105.
- • 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
Matthew Schaefer
2.02
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 | Schaefer | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.53 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 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: Schaefer vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Schaefer 1G 1A, 10 SOG · Zibanejad 2G 0A, 13 SOG
Schaefer blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 3 of Schaefer's.
On the ice against each other (Schaefer's side)
39:15 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Schaefer's side
- Shot attempts
- 30–33
- 47.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.8
- 21.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schaefer | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | NYI 2–1 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-28 | NYI 5–2 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-27 | NYI 2–0 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-08 | NYI 5–0 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
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 Schaefer
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD2.4 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to DSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
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 Matthew Schaefer 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 Schaefer's 2.02. Schaefer had 59 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, Matthew Schaefer or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Schaefer and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Schaefer's team went 4–0. Schaefer had 2 points (1 goals) and Zibanejad had 2 (2 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 →