Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Nikolaj Ehlers
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Ehlers for 1.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hits 105, Faceoffs won 574, Blocked shots 50.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, Fenwick 61.3%, Corsi 60.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.16 |
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 Ehlers
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 4G 9A, 48 SOG · Ehlers 5G 14A, 60 SOG
Zibanejad blocked 4 of Ehlers's shots; Ehlers blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
16:22 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–28
- 17.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–1.4
- 5.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | NYR 0–2 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-12-29 | NYR 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | NYR 4–2 CAR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-04 | NYR 0–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-11 | NYR 1–2 WPG | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-12 | NYR 3–6 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-03-19 | NYR 2–4 WPG | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-30 | NYR 3–2 WPG | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-20 | NYR 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-14 | NYR 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-04-19 | NYR 3–0 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2022-03-06 | NYR 4–1 WPG | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Nikolaj Ehlers
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Nikolaj Ehlers 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 Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 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 Nikolaj Ehlers?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 17 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 Ehlers done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 7–9. Zibanejad had 13 points (4 goals) and Ehlers had 19 (5 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 →