Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Ekholm for 1.1 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.1.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: High-danger chances 58.3%, Expected goals 58.4%, Sequence xG 58.4%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.8, Luck Meter +78, On-ice PDO 1036.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
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 | Ekholm | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 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: Ekholm vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekholm 3G 6A, 30 SOG · Zacha 5G 3A, 24 SOG
Ekholm blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 2 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
9:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–8
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 47.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | EDM 2–6 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-18 | EDM 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | EDM 4–0 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | EDM 3–2 BOS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-05 | EDM 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-21 | EDM 5–6 BOS | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-09 | EDM 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-16 | NSH 0–5 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-10 | NSH 3–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2021-11-26 | NSH 4–2 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-01-30 | NSH 6–5 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2019-12-07 | NSH 6–4 NJD | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.1 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 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, Mattias Ekholm or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm 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 Ekholm and Zacha done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 12–3. Ekholm had 9 points (3 goals) and Zacha had 8 (5 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 →