Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Nurse for 1.8 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.8.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Nurse's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, 20+ mph bursts 101, Blocked shots 167.
Zacha's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1036, Luck Meter +68, Plus/minus +4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Darnell Nurse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 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: Nurse 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.
Nurse 1G 4A, 29 SOG · Zacha 3G 1A, 18 SOG
Nurse blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Nurse's.
On the ice against each other (Nurse's side)
9:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nurse's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–11
- 35.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 56.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nurse | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | EDM 2–6 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-18 | EDM 3–1 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | EDM 4–0 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | EDM 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-05 | EDM 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-21 | EDM 5–6 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-09 | EDM 3–2 BOS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-27 | EDM 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-31 | EDM 5–6 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-11-08 | EDM 4–0 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-10 | EDM 4–3 NJD | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-06 | EDM 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLA
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.8 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 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Nurse had 24 points in 82 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, Darnell Nurse or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nurse and Zacha done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Nurse's team went 8–5. Nurse had 5 points (1 goals) and Zacha had 4 (3 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 →