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Who to start · 2025-26

Mika Zibanejad vs Pavel Zacha

Mika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · CentrevsPavel ZachaPavel ZachaBruins · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.

Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.

This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: High-danger chances 53.8%, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Blocked shots 50.

Zacha's biggest edges: Plus/minus +4, On-ice PDO 1036, Penalty minutes 28.

Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Zibanejad 39–32.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Pavel Zacha

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromZibanejadZacha
Goals (+2)0.810.68
Assists (+1)0.510.40
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.18
Hits (+0.1)0.140.08
Blocks (+0.5)0.340.24

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: Zibanejad vs Zacha

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

ZibanejadZacha
12Team record in 26 meetings14
22Points in those games14

Zibanejad 9G 13A, 63 SOG · Zacha 7G 7A, 47 SOG

32Faceoffs against each other39

Zibanejad's offensive zone 11–13 · neutral 12–11 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 9–15 (2017-18 to 2026-27)

1Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other1

Zibanejad blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.

On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)

7:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Zibanejad's side

Shot attempts
8–2
80.0%
Expected goals
0.2–0.2
51.9%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Zacha
DateScoreZibanejadZacha
2026-09-29NYR 0–3 BOS0G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2026-01-26NYR 4–3 BOS0G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2026-01-10NYR 2–10 BOS1G 1A 2S3G 0A 3S
2025-02-05NYR 3–2 BOS0G 2A 1S0G 1A 2S
2025-02-01NYR 3–6 BOS0G 1A 4S1G 1A 1S
2025-01-02NYR 2–1 BOS1G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2024-03-21NYR 5–2 BOS1G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2023-11-25NYR 7–4 BOS0G 1A 0S0G 1A 1S
2023-03-04NYR 2–4 BOS0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2023-01-19NYR 1–3 BOS0G 0A 3S1G 0A 1S
2022-11-03NYR 2–5 BOS0G 1A 1S0G 1A 1S
2022-04-05NYR 3–1 NJD0G 0A 0S0G 0A 2S

Latest 12 of 26 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.

ZibanejadZacha

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Pavel Zacha

3games (1 left)

1.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 pts
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 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, Mika Zibanejad or Pavel Zacha?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Zibanejad and Zacha done against each other?
In 26 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 12–14. Zibanejad had 22 points (9 goals) and Zacha had 14 (7 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Zacha?
Against each other, Zibanejad has won 32 and Zacha 39 of their 71 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 →