Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Eriksson Ek for 1.7 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.3.
Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Ascension score 53, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.13, Expected goals 51.3%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Luck Meter +68, Faceoff win % 53.3%.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Eriksson Ek 18–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eriksson Ek | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Eriksson Ek 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.
Eriksson Ek 4G 4A, 33 SOG · Zacha 3G 5A, 25 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 3–6 · neutral 2–3 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 4–9 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Eriksson Ek blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Eriksson Ek's.
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
8:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–15
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 43.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | MIN 3–6 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-14 | MIN 6–2 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-04 | MIN 0–3 BOS | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-23 | MIN 3–2 BOS | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | MIN 4–3 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-03-18 | MIN 2–5 BOS | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-10-22 | MIN 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-12-02 | MIN 5–2 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-24 | MIN 3–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-02-15 | MIN 4–5 NJD | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-02-09 | MIN 4–2 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-02-22 | MIN 4–2 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.3 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Joel Eriksson Ek or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Zacha done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 7–6. Eriksson Ek had 8 points (4 goals) and Zacha had 8 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Zacha?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 9 and Zacha 18 of their 27 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 →