Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Samuelsson vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Samuelsson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Samuelsson had 41 points in 78 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Samuelsson has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Samuelsson for 2.0 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Mattias Samuelsson has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Samuelsson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.38, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.07, 20+ mph bursts 93.
Zacha's biggest edges: Power-play share 65.7%, Power-play time per game 2:55, Offensive-zone time 42.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Samuelsson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mattias Samuelsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Samuelsson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.44 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.93 | 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: Samuelsson vs Zacha
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Samuelsson 3G 4A, 18 SOG · Zacha 5G 9A, 34 SOG
Samuelsson blocked 2 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Samuelsson's.
On the ice against each other (Samuelsson's side)
54:45 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from Samuelsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 43–48
- 47.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–1.9
- 43.2%
- Goals
- 3–4
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Samuelsson | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | BUF 4–1 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | BUF 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | BUF 6–1 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-23 · PO | BUF 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | BUF 2–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | BUF 4–3 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-25 | BUF 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-27 | BUF 4–1 BOS | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-30 | BUF 3–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-11 | BUF 1–3 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-06 | BUF 6–3 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-17 | BUF 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 20 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 Samuelsson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
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 Mattias Samuelsson or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Samuelsson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Samuelsson had 41 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, Mattias Samuelsson or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Samuelsson leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Samuelsson and Zacha done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Samuelsson's team went 11–9. Samuelsson had 7 points (3 goals) and Zacha had 14 (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 →