Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 2.3 ESPN points to Hertl's 1.8.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Luck Meter +47, On-ice PDO 1002.
Hertl's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Fenwick 55.5%, Penalty minutes 39.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Zibanejad 49–40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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 6G 9A, 51 SOG · Hertl 5G 7A, 36 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 11–17 · neutral 16–12 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 13–20 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 0 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
7:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–8
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 73.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-07 | NYR 2–3 VGK | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-18 | NYR 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-02-02 | NYR 4–2 VGK | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYR 2–1 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-23 | NYR 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-03 | NYR 6–5 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-11-19 | NYR 2–1 SJS | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-20 | NYR 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-01-13 | NYR 3–0 SJS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-03 | NYR 1–0 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-12 | NYR 6–3 SJS | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-30 | NYR 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA2.3 pts
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Zibanejad and Hertl done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 10–5. Zibanejad had 15 points (6 goals) and Hertl had 12 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Hertl?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 40 and Hertl 49 of their 89 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 →