Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Lindholm projects to 1.78 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Lindholm for 1.2 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.1.
Pavel Zacha has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Blocked shots 59, Transition attempts /60 1.40, Offensive-zone start % 57.0%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.8, Luck Meter +78, Top skating speed 22.4.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Lindholm 21–19.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Lindholm has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 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: Lindholm vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lindholm 1G 3A, 23 SOG · Zacha 6G 3A, 18 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 4–9 · neutral 3–6 · Lindholm's defensive zone 12–6 (2017-18 to 2023-24)
Lindholm blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 2 of Lindholm's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
14:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 6–21
- 22.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–1.5
- 8.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-24 | VAN 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-08 | VAN 0–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-28 | CGY 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-10 | CGY 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-10-26 | CGY 5–3 NJD | 1G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2019-11-07 | CGY 5–2 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2018-03-27 | CAR 3–4 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-03-02 | CAR 3–1 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-02-18 | CAR 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2018-02-15 | CAR 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. 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 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. 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 @ MINB2B1.1 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Lindholm projects to 1.78 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 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, Elias Lindholm or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Zacha leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Zacha done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 4–6. Lindholm had 4 points (1 goals) and Zacha had 9 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Zacha?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 19 and Zacha 21 of their 40 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 →