Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:14, Power-play points 35, Power-play share 77.5%.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Ascension score 78, Penalty minutes 63.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.30 |
| 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 Podkolzin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 4G 2A, 20 SOG · Podkolzin 3G 0A, 14 SOG
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
9:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–12
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.5
- 13.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-30 | NYR 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-14 | NYR 0–2 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-16 | NYR 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | NYR 2–6 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-15 | NYR 6–4 VAN | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-08 | NYR 4–3 VAN | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-27 | NYR 2–5 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-02 | NYR 2–3 VAN | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
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)
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Vasily Podkolzin 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 Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Podkolzin had 37 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 Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 3–5. Zibanejad had 6 points (4 goals) and Podkolzin had 3 (3 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 →