Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
John Tavares has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.18, Offensive-zone start % 56.1%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Plus/minus +4, Goals above expected +7.4, On-ice PDO 1036.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Zacha 89–53.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Tavares 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.
Tavares 7G 15A, 90 SOG · Zacha 7G 8A, 46 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 24–19 · neutral 39–21 · Tavares's defensive zone 26–13 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
13:38 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–15
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.5
- 73.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | TOR 4–2 BOS | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-11 | TOR 3–5 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | TOR 3–5 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-25 | TOR 5–4 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | TOR 6–4 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | TOR 4–0 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-26 | TOR 3–4 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-04 · PO | TOR 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-02 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | TOR 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | TOR 2–4 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 31 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 Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule 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 John Tavares or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Tavares had 71 points in 82 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 Tavares or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Zacha done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 14–17. Tavares had 22 points (7 goals) and Zacha had 15 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Zacha?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 89 and Zacha 53 of their 142 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 →