Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Aliaksei Protas has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.43, High-danger chances 53.6%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30.
Zacha's biggest edges: Power-play share 65.7%, Power-play points 22, Power-play time per game 2:55.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Pavel Zacha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 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: Protas vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Protas 3G 2A, 23 SOG · Zacha 1G 5A, 14 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–1 · Protas's defensive zone 2–1 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Protas blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Protas's.
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
11:18 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–11
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.8
- 42.2%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | WSH 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-07 | WSH 1–3 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-08 | WSH 1–3 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-01 | WSH 4–3 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | WSH 3–1 BOS | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-23 | WSH 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-15 | WSH 2–0 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-30 | WSH 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-02-10 | WSH 3–0 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-11 | WSH 2–5 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-12 | WSH 2–5 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 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, Aliaksei Protas or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Aliaksei Protas leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Zacha done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 4–7. Protas had 5 points (3 goals) and Zacha had 6 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Zacha?
- Against each other, Protas has won 3 and Zacha 2 of their 5 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 →