Who to start · 2025-26
Jake McCabe vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake McCabe projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week McCabe has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project McCabe for 1.7 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Pavel Zacha has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McCabe's biggest edges: Blocked shots 190, 20+ mph bursts 62, Transition attempts /60 0.45.
Zacha's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 42.4%, Hardest shot 93.0, Luck Meter +68.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake McCabe
1.75
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake McCabe has the edge.
| Points per game from | McCabe | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.19 | 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: McCabe 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.
McCabe 4G 6A, 30 SOG · Zacha 3G 13A, 48 SOG
McCabe blocked 4 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of McCabe's.
On the ice against each other (McCabe's side)
7:09 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McCabe's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–6
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 13.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McCabe | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | TOR 4–2 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-11 | TOR 3–5 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | TOR 3–5 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-25 | TOR 5–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | TOR 6–4 BOS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | TOR 4–0 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-26 | TOR 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-04 · PO | TOR 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-02 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | TOR 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | TOR 2–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Jake McCabe
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
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%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake McCabe or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake McCabe projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. McCabe had 25 points in 80 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, Jake McCabe or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Zacha leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McCabe and Zacha done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, McCabe's team went 13–16. McCabe had 10 points (4 goals) and Zacha had 16 (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 →