Who to start · 2025-26
Leo Carlsson vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leo Carlsson projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Carlsson had 67 points in 70 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Carlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Carlsson for 1.6 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Leo Carlsson has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Carlsson's biggest edges: Ascension score 59, Expected goals 55.4%, Offensive-zone start % 65.8%.
Zacha's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1036, Draw Equity /100 +0.035, Faceoff win % 53.3%.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Carlsson 14–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leo Carlsson
2.12
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leo Carlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carlsson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.90 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 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: Carlsson vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Carlsson 4G 4A, 13 SOG · Zacha 0G 4A, 6 SOG
Carlsson's offensive zone 3–0 · neutral 3–5 · Carlsson's defensive zone 3–9 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Carlsson's side)
9:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Carlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–12
- 36.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.4
- 36.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlsson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-19 | ANA 4–3 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | ANA 7–5 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-26 | ANA 6–2 BOS | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-22 | ANA 3–2 BOS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-26 | ANA 4–3 BOS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
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.
Leo Carlsson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
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%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leo Carlsson or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leo Carlsson projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Carlsson had 67 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, Leo Carlsson or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leo Carlsson 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 Carlsson and Zacha done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Carlsson's team went 5–0. Carlsson had 8 points (4 goals) and Zacha had 4 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Carlsson or Zacha?
- Against each other, Carlsson has won 9 and Zacha 14 of their 23 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 →