Who to start · 2025-26
Matty Beniers vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matty Beniers projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Beniers has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Beniers for 3.8 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Pavel Zacha has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Beniers's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38, Blocked shots 69, Ascension score 53.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Luck Meter +68.
Head to head on the dot, Beniers leads Zacha 8–7.
- • 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
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matty Beniers has the edge.
| Points per game from | Beniers | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.58 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.46 | 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: Beniers 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.
Beniers 3G 6A, 15 SOG · Zacha 0G 6A, 15 SOG
Beniers's offensive zone 3–4 · neutral 3–2 · Beniers's defensive zone 2–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Beniers blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 2 of Beniers's.
On the ice against each other (Beniers's side)
5:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Beniers's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–3
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.1
- 77.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Beniers | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | SEA 2–4 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-06 | SEA 7–4 BOS | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-12 | SEA 5–1 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-03 | SEA 0–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-26 | SEA 4–3 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-15 | SEA 4–1 BOS | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-23 | SEA 5–6 BOS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-12 | SEA 3–0 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-16 | SEA 4–3 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
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.
Matty Beniers
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
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 Matty Beniers or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matty Beniers projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Beniers had 50 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, Matty Beniers or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Zacha leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Beniers and Zacha done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Beniers's team went 6–3. Beniers had 9 points (3 goals) and Zacha had 6 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Beniers or Zacha?
- Against each other, Beniers has won 8 and Zacha 7 of their 15 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 →