Who to start · 2025-26
Brad Marchand vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Marchand has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Marchand for 1.8 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Brad Marchand has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchand's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.94, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.33, Offensive-zone time 46.0%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 524, Plus/minus +4, Hardest shot 93.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brad Marchand
2.26
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.78
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brad Marchand has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marchand | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.77 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.45 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.17 |
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: Marchand 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.
Marchand 7G 16A, 37 SOG · Zacha 4G 4A, 39 SOG
Marchand blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Marchand's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Marchand's side)
2:34 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Marchand's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–1
- 80.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.0
- 99.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchand | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-21 | FLA 4–3 BOS | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-11-13 | BOS 5–2 NJD | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2021-05-04 | BOS 3–4 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2021-05-03 | BOS 3–0 NJD | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-03-30 | BOS 5–4 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-02-18 | BOS 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-07 | BOS 0–1 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-01-16 | BOS 1–2 NJD | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-01-14 | BOS 3–2 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-31 | BOS 2–3 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-11-19 | BOS 5–1 NJD | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-12 | BOS 3–0 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Brad Marchand
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LW
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to LW
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to C
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brad Marchand or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Marchand had 54 points in 52 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, Brad Marchand or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brad Marchand leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchand and Zacha done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Marchand's team went 10–6. Marchand had 23 points (7 goals) and Zacha had 8 (4 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 →