Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Shorthanded points 2, Blocked shots 50.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Plus/minus +57, Top skating speed 24.8, Transition attempts /60 1.83.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads MacKinnon 57–32.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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 5A, 43 SOG · MacKinnon 10G 12A, 62 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 21–7 · neutral 26–14 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 10–11 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 1 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
5:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–3
- 70.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 46.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-06 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2025-11-20 | NYR 3–6 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-26 | NYR 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-03-28 | NYR 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-05 | NYR 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-10-25 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2021-12-14 | NYR 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2021-12-08 | NYR 3–7 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2020-01-07 | NYR 5–3 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-01-04 | NYR 1–6 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 8S |
| 2018-10-16 | NYR 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 4–10. Zibanejad had 8 points (3 goals) and MacKinnon had 22 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 57 and MacKinnon 32 of their 89 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 →