Who to start · 2025-26
Martin Necas vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Necas had 100 points in 78 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Necas has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Necas for 1.7 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Martin Necas has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Necas's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.57, Offensive-zone start % 69.2%, Expected goals 56.8%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Faceoffs won 524, Ascension score 40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Martin Necas
2.40
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Martin Necas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Necas | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.91 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Necas vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Necas 5G 9A, 42 SOG · Zacha 1G 10A, 26 SOG
Necas's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 2–0 · Necas's defensive zone 0–1 (2019-20 to 2022-23)
Necas blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Necas's.
On the ice against each other (Necas's side)
9:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Necas's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–5
- 73.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.2
- 82.3%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Necas | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-25 | COL 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-18 | COL 4–1 BOS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-25 | COL 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-31 | CAR 8–2 BOS | 1G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-09 | CAR 4–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-04 | CAR 1–4 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-01-24 | CAR 3–2 BOS | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-26 | CAR 3–4 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-01-29 | CAR 4–1 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-11-25 | CAR 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-04-28 | CAR 6–3 NJD | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-04-23 | CAR 3–2 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Martin Necas
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.7 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Martin Necas or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Necas had 100 points in 78 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, Martin Necas or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Martin Necas leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Necas and Zacha done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Necas's team went 9–7. Necas had 14 points (5 goals) and Zacha had 11 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Necas or Zacha?
- Against each other, Necas has won 3 and Zacha 2 of their 5 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 →