Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Malkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Sequence xG 53.9%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Faceoff win % 53.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.035.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Malkin 26–24.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Malkin 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.
Malkin 6G 7A, 51 SOG · Zacha 5G 15A, 33 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 8–12 · neutral 12–9 · Malkin's defensive zone 4–5 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Malkin blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
8:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.4
- 29.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | PIT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-11 | PIT 0–1 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-13 | PIT 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | PIT 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-29 | PIT 2–1 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | PIT 4–6 BOS | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-09 | PIT 1–5 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-04 | PIT 6–5 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-01 | PIT 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2023-01-02 | PIT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-01 | PIT 5–6 BOS | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-02-13 | PIT 4–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Evgeni Malkin or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Malkin and Zacha done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 6–16. Malkin had 13 points (6 goals) and Zacha had 20 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Zacha?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 24 and Zacha 26 of their 50 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 →