Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Faceoffs won 574.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 93, Plus/minus 0, Ascension score 54.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Rantanen 10–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.22 |
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: Zibanejad vs Rantanen
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.
Zibanejad 3G 3A, 54 SOG · Rantanen 9G 5A, 46 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 1–2 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 8–7 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
9:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–4
- 69.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 52.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | NYR 0–2 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-02 | NYR 3–2 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-28 | NYR 0–4 CAR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-14 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-28 | NYR 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-05 | NYR 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-09 | NYR 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-25 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2021-12-14 | NYR 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-08 | NYR 3–7 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2020-01-07 | NYR 5–3 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-01-04 | NYR 1–6 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 5S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Mikko Rantanen 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 Mikko Rantanen's 2.21. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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, Mika Zibanejad or Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 6–9. Zibanejad had 6 points (3 goals) and Rantanen had 14 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 10 and Rantanen 10 of their 20 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 →