Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; O'Reilly has 1 left. We project O'Reilly for 1.7 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.5.
Ryan O'Reilly has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hits 105, Hardest shot 96.4, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, Corsi 52.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
Head to head on the dot, O'Reilly leads Zibanejad 68–53.
- • 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
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.38 |
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 O'Reilly
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 3G 9A, 33 SOG · O'Reilly 6G 11A, 44 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 13–15 · neutral 18–21 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 22–32 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 1 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 2 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
23:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–22
- 40.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.1
- 22.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | NYR 1–2 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-11-10 | NYR 6–3 NSH | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-02 | NYR 4–0 NSH | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-17 | NYR 0–2 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-02 | NYR 4–3 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2023-10-19 | NYR 1–4 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-13 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-12-05 | NYR 6–4 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-10 | NYR 2–6 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-02 | NYR 5–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2020-03-03 | NYR 1–3 STL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2020-01-11 | NYR 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 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.
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 C
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to C
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Ryan O'Reilly 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 Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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 Ryan O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan O'Reilly 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 O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 10–7. Zibanejad had 12 points (3 goals) and O'Reilly had 17 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or O'Reilly?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 53 and O'Reilly 68 of their 121 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 →