Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 574, Hits 105, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Penalty minutes 50, Fenwick 55.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.04 |
| 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 Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 13G 16A, 79 SOG · Kucherov 8G 26A, 77 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 1–0 (2017-18)
Zibanejad blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 2 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
26:44 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–39
- 32.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–2.4
- 19.5%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-15 | NYR 4–2 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-29 | NYR 1–4 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2025-11-12 | NYR 7–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | NYR 4–0 TBL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-07 | NYR 1–5 TBL | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYR 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-03-14 | NYR 3–6 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 4A 1S |
| 2024-02-07 | NYR 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-30 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-05 | NYR 6–3 TBL | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-29 | NYR 1–2 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 8S |
Latest 12 of 26 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)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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 Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 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 Kucherov done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 12–14. Zibanejad had 29 points (13 goals) and Kucherov had 34 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Kucherov?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 1 and Kucherov 0 of their 1 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 →