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Who to start · 2025-26

Mika Zibanejad vs Rasmus Sandin

Mika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · CentrevsRasmus SandinRasmus SandinCapitals · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59.

Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 games.

This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Sandin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Sandin for 1.7 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 29 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Offensive-zone time 43.4%.

Sandin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +4, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.09, 20+ mph bursts 61.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mika Zibanejad

2.31

fantasy points per game

Rasmus Sandin

1.59

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromZibanejadSandin
Goals (+2)0.840.14
Assists (+1)0.540.33
Power-play points (+0.5)0.220.01
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.270.12
Hits (+0.1)0.130.12
Blocks (+0.5)0.310.87

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 Sandin

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

ZibanejadSandin
9Team record in 17 meetings8
19Points in those games8

Zibanejad 6G 13A, 43 SOG · Sandin 0G 8A, 18 SOG

2Hits on each other3
1Shots blocked by the other1

Zibanejad blocked 1 of Sandin's shots; Sandin blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.

On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)

21:37 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side

Shot attempts
16–23
41.0%
Expected goals
1.3–0.9
60.1%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Mika Zibanejad and Rasmus Sandin
DateScoreZibanejadSandin
2026-04-05NYR 8–1 WSH0G 3A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-12-31NYR 3–6 WSH0G 1A 0S0G 2A 2S
2025-10-12NYR 0–1 WSH0G 0A 7S0G 0A 0S
2025-03-05NYR 2–3 WSH0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-04NYR 4–7 WSH1G 0A 3S0G 1A 0S
2024-10-29NYR 3–5 WSH0G 1A 1S0G 2A 1S
2024-04-28 · PONYR 4–2 WSH0G 2A 1S0G 0A 0S
2023-12-27NYR 5–1 WSH0G 2A 1S0G 1A 1S
2023-12-09NYR 0–4 WSH0G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S
2023-04-02NYR 5–2 WSH1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2023-03-14NYR 5–3 WSH2G 0A 5S0G 1A 3S
2023-01-25NYR 2–3 TOR0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S

Latest 12 of 17 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.

ZibanejadSandin

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Rasmus Sandin

2games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.7 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Rasmus Sandin 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 Sandin's 1.59. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 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 Sandin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 29 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Zibanejad and Sandin done against each other?
In 17 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 9–8. Zibanejad had 19 points (6 goals) and Sandin had 8 (0 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 →