Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Hagel for 2.2 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: High-danger chances 59.0%, Expected goals 59.8%, Sequence xG 59.6%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.8, Faceoffs won 524, Luck Meter +78.
- • 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
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hagel 8G 5A, 53 SOG · Zacha 3G 9A, 26 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–0 · Hagel's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24 to 2024-25)
Hagel blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Hagel's.
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
14:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–16
- 48.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.7
- 59.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | TBL 2–1 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-13 | TBL 4–3 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-03-15 | TBL 6–2 BOS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-08 | TBL 0–4 BOS | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | TBL 2–6 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-09 | TBL 4–1 BOS | 1G 1A 9S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-27 | TBL 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-13 | TBL 3–2 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | TBL 3–7 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-20 | TBL 5–4 BOS | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-25 | TBL 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-26 | TBL 3–2 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.2 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Brandon Hagel or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Hagel had 74 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, Brandon Hagel or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Zacha done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 9–7. Hagel had 13 points (8 goals) and Zacha had 12 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Zacha?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 1 and Zacha 1 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 →