Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Expected goals 54.4%, Offensive-zone start % 63.2%, Sequence xG 54.3%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Faceoffs won 524, Hardest shot 93.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 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
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Rantanen 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.
Rantanen 7G 9A, 30 SOG · Zacha 0G 9A, 20 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 0–3 · neutral 0–0 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24)
Rantanen blocked 2 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Rantanen's.
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
7:41 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–6
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.2
- 82.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | DAL 3–6 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-06 | CAR 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-10-16 | COL 3–5 BOS | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-18 | COL 2–5 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-08 | COL 4–3 BOS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-07 | COL 0–4 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-03 | COL 1–5 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-14 | COL 3–1 NJD | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-08 | COL 3–5 NJD | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2020-01-04 | COL 5–2 NJD | 3G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-12-13 | COL 3–1 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-10-18 | COL 5–3 NJD | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 Mikko Rantanen or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rantanen and Zacha done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 6–8. Rantanen had 16 points (7 goals) and Zacha had 9 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Zacha?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 0 and Zacha 3 of their 3 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 →