Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Parker Kelly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Parker Kelly's 1.51.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Kelly had 35 in 82 games.
This week Zibanejad has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Kelly has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 3.3 ESPN points to Kelly's 1.2.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Power-play share 77.5%, Power-play time per game 3:14, Power-play points 35.
Kelly's biggest edges: Plus/minus +18, Fenwick 56.2%, Ascension score 55.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Parker Kelly
1.51
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.13 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.22 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.33 |
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 Kelly
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 1G 11A, 26 SOG · Kelly 2G 1A, 13 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 1–0 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 0 of Kelly's shots; Kelly blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
4:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–9
- 18.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.5
- 3.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Kelly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-06 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-20 | NYR 3–6 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-26 | NYR 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | NYR 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-15 | NYR 4–0 OTT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-27 | NYR 7–2 OTT | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-05 | NYR 2–6 OTT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-02 | NYR 2–3 OTT | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-30 | NYR 3–1 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-09 | NYR 5–1 OTT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-20 | NYR 2–1 OTT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-23 | NYR 3–2 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 (2 left)
3.3proj. 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 @ DETB2B1.8 ptsSchedule 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)
Parker Kelly
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.2 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Parker Kelly 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 Parker Kelly's 1.51. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Kelly had 35 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 Parker Kelly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 19 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 Kelly done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 6–6. Zibanejad had 12 points (1 goals) and Kelly had 3 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Kelly?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 1 and Kelly 2 of their 3 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 →