Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Nelson for 1.3 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.42, High-danger chances 57.1%, Expected goals 60.0%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Luck Meter +68, Hardest shot 93.0, Goals above expected +7.4.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Zacha 52–46.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 10G 10A, 67 SOG · Zacha 6G 9A, 42 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 18–16 · neutral 16–12 · Nelson's defensive zone 18–18 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
9:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–5
- 61.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 47.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-25 | COL 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-18 | COL 4–1 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | NYI 2–1 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-05 | NYI 5–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-27 | NYI 3–6 BOS | 2G 1A 3S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-02 | NYI 5–1 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-09 | NYI 2–5 BOS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | NYI 2–6 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-18 | NYI 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-13 | NYI 3–4 BOS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-04-03 | NYI 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-13 | NYI 3–2 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 31 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Brock Nelson or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Zacha done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 18–13. Nelson had 20 points (10 goals) and Zacha had 15 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Zacha?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 52 and Zacha 46 of their 98 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 →