Who to start · 2025-26
Mitch Marner vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Marner had 80 points in 81 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Marner has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Marner for 2.3 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Mitch Marner has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Marner's biggest edges: High-danger chances 59.0%, Expected goals 57.0%, Sequence xG 56.9%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 53.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.035, Hardest shot 93.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mitch Marner
1.88
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mitch Marner has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marner | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.52 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.67 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 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: Marner 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.
Marner 12G 27A, 62 SOG · Zacha 9G 7A, 47 SOG
Marner's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 1–1 · Marner's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Marner's side)
7:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Marner's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–9
- 59.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 49.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marner | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | VGK 3–4 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-16 | VGK 6–5 BOS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-25 | TOR 5–4 BOS | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | TOR 6–4 BOS | 1G 4A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | TOR 4–0 BOS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-26 | TOR 3–4 BOS | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-04 · PO | TOR 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-02 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | TOR 2–1 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | TOR 1–3 BOS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | TOR 2–4 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-22 · PO | TOR 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 28 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.
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
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 Mitch Marner or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Marner had 80 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, Mitch Marner or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mitch Marner leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marner and Zacha done against each other?
- In 28 games against each other in our data, Marner's team went 13–15. Marner had 39 points (12 goals) and Zacha had 16 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Marner or Zacha?
- Against each other, Marner has won 2 and Zacha 2 of their 4 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 →