Who to start · 2025-26
John Carlson vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Carlson has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Carlson for 1.9 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
John Carlson has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Carlson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.96, High-danger chances 54.5%, Expected goals 54.2%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Hits 64, On-ice PDO 1036.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carlson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.37 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.61 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.76 | 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: Carlson 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.
Carlson 7G 18A, 68 SOG · Zacha 1G 10A, 44 SOG
Carlson blocked 2 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Carlson's.
On the ice against each other (Carlson's side)
4:29 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Carlson's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–4
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 91.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-08 | WSH 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-01 | WSH 4–3 BOS | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | WSH 3–1 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-23 | WSH 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-15 | WSH 2–0 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-30 | WSH 2–3 BOS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-02-10 | WSH 3–0 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-11 | WSH 2–5 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-12 | WSH 2–5 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-02 | WSH 3–4 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-21 | WSH 4–1 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-04 | WSH 5–4 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 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.
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.9 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. 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 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Carlson or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Carlson had 60 points in 71 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, John Carlson or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Carlson leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Carlson and Zacha done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Carlson's team went 19–10. Carlson had 25 points (7 goals) and Zacha had 11 (1 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 →