Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Transition attempts /60 1.78, Expected goals 53.1%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Faceoffs won 524, Hardest shot 93.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.24 |
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: DeBrincat vs Zacha
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.
DeBrincat 7G 8A, 88 SOG · Zacha 7G 7A, 42 SOG
DeBrincat's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
15:10 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–11
- 45.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 60.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | DET 2–4 BOS | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-13 | DET 0–3 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-02 | DET 5–4 BOS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-29 | DET 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-29 | DET 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-03 | DET 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-23 | DET 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-31 | DET 3–5 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-24 | DET 5–2 BOS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-11-04 | DET 5–4 BOS | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-28 | DET 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-03-21 | OTT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 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, Alex DeBrincat or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Zacha done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 9–14. DeBrincat had 15 points (7 goals) and Zacha had 14 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Zacha?
- Against each other, DeBrincat has won 0 and Zacha 2 of their 2 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 →