Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Zacha has 1 left. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.1.
Elias Pettersson has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60, Ascension score 57, Blocked shots 108.
Zacha's biggest edges: Luck Meter +78, Goals above expected +8.8, On-ice PDO 1036.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Pettersson 10–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 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: Pettersson vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pettersson 1G 1A, 21 SOG · Zacha 4G 5A, 21 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 2–3 · neutral 2–5 · Pettersson's defensive zone 2–2 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
2:20 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–1
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | VAN 2–3 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-14 | VAN 1–5 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-11-26 | VAN 2–0 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-24 | VAN 3–2 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-08 | VAN 0–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-25 | VAN 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-13 | VAN 2–5 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-02-28 | VAN 2–7 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-10 | VAN 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-10-19 | VAN 0–1 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-12-31 | VAN 0–4 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
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 Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
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 Pettersson or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 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 Pettersson or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Elias Pettersson leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Zacha done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 2–9. Pettersson had 2 points (1 goals) and Zacha had 9 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Zacha?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 6 and Zacha 10 of their 16 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 →