Who to start · 2025-26
Chris Kreider 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 Chris Kreider's 1.42.
Kreider had 50 points in 75 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Kreider has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Kreider for 1.0 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Chris Kreider has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kreider's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.2%, Offensive-zone start % 65.7%, Expected goals 55.0%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, On-ice PDO 1036, Luck Meter +68.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chris Kreider
1.42
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 | Kreider | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.13 | 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: Kreider 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.
Kreider 10G 10A, 65 SOG · Zacha 4G 9A, 44 SOG
Kreider's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 0–0 · Kreider's defensive zone 2–0 (2017-18 to 2023-24)
Kreider blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 2 of Kreider's.
On the ice against each other (Kreider's side)
1:16 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kreider's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kreider | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-19 | ANA 4–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-05 | NYR 3–2 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-01 | NYR 3–6 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-02 | NYR 2–1 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-21 | NYR 5–2 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-25 | NYR 7–4 BOS | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-04 | NYR 2–4 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-19 | NYR 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-03 | NYR 2–5 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-05 | NYR 3–1 NJD | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-14 | NYR 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-03-06 | NYR 6–3 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Chris Kreider
2games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.0 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
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 Chris Kreider 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 Chris Kreider's 1.42. Kreider had 50 points in 75 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, Chris Kreider or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Chris Kreider leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kreider and Zacha done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Kreider's team went 13–11. Kreider had 20 points (10 goals) and Zacha had 13 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kreider or Zacha?
- Against each other, Kreider has won 4 and Zacha 0 of their 4 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 →