Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 1.5 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, 20+ mph bursts 124, Faceoff win % 52.5%.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Penalty minutes 44, Expected goals 53.9%.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Cates 19–5.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.30 |
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 Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 11G 11A, 45 SOG · Cates 1G 4A, 25 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 5–2 · neutral 9–1 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 5–2 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
11:16 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–7
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 53.3%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-09 | NYR 6–2 PHI | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-26 | NYR 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2026-01-17 | NYR 6–3 PHI | 3G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-20 | NYR 5–4 PHI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-09 | NYR 5–8 PHI | 0G 4A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-23 | NYR 6–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-29 | NYR 1–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-11 | NYR 1–4 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-26 | NYR 6–5 PHI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-24 | NYR 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-24 | NYR 3–1 PHI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-01 | NYR 3–2 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
1.5proj. 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)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.2 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Cates had 47 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 24 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 11–5. Zibanejad had 22 points (11 goals) and Cates had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Cates?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 19 and Cates 5 of their 24 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 →