Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse 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 Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Zacha has 1 left. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Lawson Crouse has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.80, High-danger chances 53.7%, Blocked shots 52.
Zacha's biggest edges: Power-play points 22, Power-play share 65.7%, Faceoffs won 524.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.65
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 | Crouse | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Crouse vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Crouse 4G 4A, 31 SOG · Zacha 2G 5A, 23 SOG
Crouse's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Crouse's defensive zone 0–1 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
Crouse blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
5:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–8
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 47.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-16 | UTA 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-19 | UTA 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-21 | UTA 0–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-19 | UTA 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-09 | ARI 4–3 BOS | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-09 | ARI 3–5 BOS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-09 | ARI 4–3 BOS | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-15 | ARI 3–6 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-01-19 | ARI 4–1 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-14 | ARI 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-10-25 | ARI 5–3 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-03-23 | ARI 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
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.
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
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 Lawson Crouse 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 Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Crouse had 44 points in 81 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, Lawson Crouse or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lawson Crouse leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Crouse and Zacha done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 6–7. Crouse had 8 points (4 goals) and Zacha had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crouse or Zacha?
- Against each other, Crouse 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 →