Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Ekholm 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 Ekholm's 1.1.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Transition attempts /60 0.80, Fenwick 56.1%.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.3, Power-play share 77.5%, Luck Meter +33.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
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 | Ekholm | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 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: Ekholm 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.
Ekholm 2G 4A, 22 SOG · Zibanejad 2G 8A, 42 SOG
Ekholm blocked 3 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
10:15 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–14
- 39.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 33.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-30 | EDM 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-14 | EDM 2–0 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-23 | EDM 6–2 NYR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-22 | EDM 4–3 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-10-26 | EDM 0–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-12 | NSH 2–1 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2021-12-12 | NSH 1–0 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2021-10-21 | NSH 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-12-16 | NSH 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 7S |
| 2018-12-29 | NSH 3–4 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 4A 1S |
| 2018-10-04 | NSH 3–2 NYR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2018-02-03 | NSH 5–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 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, Mattias Ekholm or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekholm and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 8–5. Ekholm had 6 points (2 goals) and Zibanejad had 10 (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 →