Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Zacha for 1.8 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.7.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: High-danger chances 56.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Expected goals 57.0%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.0, Power-play share 65.7%, Power-play points 22.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Zacha 38–31.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
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 | Cirelli | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 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: Cirelli 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.
Cirelli 7G 4A, 46 SOG · Zacha 3G 9A, 43 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 10–10 · neutral 15–9 · Cirelli's defensive zone 13–12 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
14:19 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–14
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.7
- 64.4%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | TBL 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-04 | TBL 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-13 | TBL 4–3 BOS | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-03-15 | TBL 6–2 BOS | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-08 | TBL 0–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | TBL 2–6 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-09 | TBL 4–1 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-27 | TBL 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-13 | TBL 3–2 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | TBL 3–7 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-20 | TBL 5–4 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-25 | TBL 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 pts
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Zacha done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 19–8. Cirelli had 11 points (7 goals) and Zacha had 12 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Zacha?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 38 and Zacha 31 of their 69 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 →