Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Rasmus Dahlin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Dahlin's 2.10.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Dahlin had 74 in 77 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Dahlin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Dahlin for 2.5 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Blocked shots 50, Goals above expected +5.8.
Dahlin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +18, Penalty minutes 76, Ascension score 55.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Dahlin
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.48 |
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 Dahlin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 11G 13A, 76 SOG · Dahlin 5G 14A, 67 SOG
Zibanejad blocked 2 of Dahlin's shots; Dahlin blocked 4 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
13:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–11
- 60.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.7
- 52.9%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-08 | NYR 3–5 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | NYR 2–5 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | NYR 4–0 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-22 | NYR 2–8 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2024-11-07 | NYR 1–6 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-23 | NYR 4–3 BUF | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-11-27 | NYR 1–5 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-12 | NYR 5–1 BUF | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-10 | NYR 2–3 BUF | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-31 | NYR 2–3 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-11 | NYR 2–1 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-27 | NYR 5–4 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
Latest 12 of 27 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)
Rasmus Dahlin
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Rasmus Dahlin 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 Rasmus Dahlin's 2.10. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Dahlin had 74 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 Rasmus Dahlin?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Zibanejad and Dahlin done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 16–11. Zibanejad had 24 points (11 goals) and Dahlin 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 →