Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tage Thompson's 2.26.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Faceoff win % 52.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.016.
Thompson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 35, Plus/minus −6, Top skating speed 22.8.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Thompson 17–11.
- • 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
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.28 |
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 Thompson
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 13G 10A, 71 SOG · Thompson 6G 6A, 60 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 6–2 · neutral 4–4 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 7–5 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 0 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
5:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–5
- 58.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 54.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2S |
| 2025-10-09 | NYR 4–0 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-02-22 | NYR 2–8 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2024-12-11 | NYR 3–2 BUF | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-07 | NYR 1–6 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-23 | NYR 4–3 BUF | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 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 4S |
| 2023-03-11 | NYR 2–1 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-27 | NYR 5–4 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-10 | NYR 2–1 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 22 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)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Tage Thompson 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 Tage Thompson's 2.26. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Thompson had 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 20 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 13–9. Zibanejad had 23 points (13 goals) and Thompson had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Thompson?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 17 and Thompson 11 of their 28 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 →