Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Doan vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47.
Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Doan has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Zacha for 1.8 ESPN points to Doan's 1.5.
Josh Doan has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Doan's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.51, Ascension score 60, High-danger chances 54.8%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 524, On-ice PDO 1036, Luck Meter +68.
- • 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
Josh Doan
1.47
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Pavel Zacha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Doan | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.57 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 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: Doan vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Doan 2G 2A, 25 SOG · Zacha 3G 4A, 21 SOG
Doan's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–2 · Doan's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Doan's side)
28:42 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from Doan's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–30
- 38.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–1.5
- 41.4%
- Goals
- 2–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Doan | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | BUF 4–1 BOS | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | BUF 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | BUF 6–1 BOS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-23 · PO | BUF 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | BUF 2–4 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | BUF 4–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-25 | BUF 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-27 | BUF 4–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-30 | BUF 3–4 BOS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-11 | BUF 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-19 | UTA 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Josh Doan
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJ
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI1.5 pts
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Josh Doan or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47. Doan had 52 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, Josh Doan or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Josh Doan leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Doan and Zacha done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Doan's team went 6–5. Doan had 4 points (2 goals) and Zacha had 7 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Doan or Zacha?
- Against each other, Doan has won 0 and Zacha 2 of their 2 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 →