Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Batherson for 2.0 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.8.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.7%, Expected goals 56.5%, Sequence xG 56.7%.
Zacha's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1036, Faceoffs won 524, Plus/minus +4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.78
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Drake Batherson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.77 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.45 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Batherson vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Batherson 9G 16A, 45 SOG · Zacha 6G 5A, 37 SOG
Batherson's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–0 · Batherson's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24)
Batherson blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Batherson's.
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
24:52 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 33–23
- 58.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.7
- 62.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | OTT 6–2 BOS | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-13 | OTT 5–3 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-06 | OTT 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-27 | OTT 7–2 BOS | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-13 | OTT 6–3 BOS | 2G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-23 | OTT 0–2 BOS | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-18 | OTT 6–5 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-09 | OTT 3–2 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-16 | OTT 3–1 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-03-19 | OTT 2–6 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-25 | OTT 2–3 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-21 | OTT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
Drake Batherson
1games
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR2.0 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 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Batherson had 71 points in 79 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, Drake Batherson or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Batherson and Zacha done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 11–7. Batherson had 25 points (9 goals) and Zacha had 11 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Batherson or Zacha?
- Against each other, Batherson 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 →