Who to start · 2025-26
Matthew Knies vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Knies has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Knies for 1.4 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Pavel Zacha has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Knies's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20, Offensive-zone start % 56.7%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 524, Plus/minus +4, Fenwick 49.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matthew Knies has the edge.
| Points per game from | Knies | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 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: Knies 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.
Knies 9G 6A, 48 SOG · Zacha 4G 8A, 28 SOG
On the ice against each other (Knies's side)
9:07 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Knies's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–11
- 38.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.5
- 20.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Knies | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | TOR 4–2 BOS | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-11 | TOR 3–5 BOS | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | TOR 3–5 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-25 | TOR 5–4 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | TOR 6–4 BOS | 3G 2A 6S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | TOR 4–0 BOS | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-26 | TOR 3–4 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-04 · PO | TOR 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-02 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | TOR 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | TOR 2–4 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
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 Matthew Knies or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Knies had 66 points in 79 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, Matthew Knies or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Zacha leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Knies and Zacha done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Knies's team went 7–11. Knies had 15 points (9 goals) and Zacha had 12 (4 goals).
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 →