Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Vladislav Gavrikov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Gavrikov had 35 in 82 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Gavrikov has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Gavrikov's 1.0.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Hardest shot 96.4, Ascension score 42.
Gavrikov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 50, Top skating speed 23.0, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Vladislav Gavrikov
1.51
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Gavrikov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.28 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.21 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.13 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.78 |
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 Gavrikov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 3G 4A, 29 SOG · Gavrikov 0G 1A, 10 SOG
Zibanejad blocked 0 of Gavrikov's shots; Gavrikov blocked 2 of Zibanejad's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
562:27 at 5-on-5 over 84 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 529–526
- 50.1%
- Expected goals
- 21.4–21.3
- 50.1%
- Goals
- 18–23
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Gavrikov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-25 | NYR 1–3 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-14 | NYR 1–5 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-20 | NYR 1–2 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-10 | NYR 4–1 LAK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-16 | NYR 3–1 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-10-23 | NYR 1–5 CBJ | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-27 | NYR 3–5 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-13 | NYR 5–3 CBJ | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-10-29 | NYR 4–0 CBJ | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-14 | NYR 3–1 CBJ | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-01-19 | NYR 1–2 CBJ | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-12-05 | NYR 3–2 CBJ | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
Vladislav Gavrikov
4games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.0 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Vladislav Gavrikov 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 Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Gavrikov had 35 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 Vladislav Gavrikov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 22 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 Gavrikov done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 6–6. Zibanejad had 7 points (3 goals) and Gavrikov had 1 (0 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 →