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Who to start · 2025-26

Mika Zibanejad vs Sidney Crosby

Mika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · CentrevsSidney CrosbySidney CrosbyPenguins · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18.

Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.

This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Blocked shots 50, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.07.

Crosby's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Penalty minutes 44, Plus/minus 0.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Sidney Crosby

2.18

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromZibanejadCrosby
Goals (+2)0.810.80
Assists (+1)0.510.68
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.16
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.24
Hits (+0.1)0.140.10
Blocks (+0.5)0.340.21

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

Mika Zibanejad and Sidney Crosby have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

ZibanejadCrosby

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 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Schedule 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)

Sidney Crosby

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.

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 →