Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Expected goals 59.7%, Offensive-zone start % 71.8%, Sequence xG 59.5%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Faceoff win % 53.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.035.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Zacha 23–23.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.49 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.87 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: MacKinnon 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.
MacKinnon 5G 13A, 59 SOG · Zacha 0G 8A, 16 SOG
MacKinnon's offensive zone 12–13 · neutral 5–5 · MacKinnon's defensive zone 6–5 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
9:13 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–4
- 78.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.1
- 88.5%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-25 | COL 2–3 BOS | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-18 | COL 4–1 BOS | 2G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-25 | COL 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-16 | COL 3–5 BOS | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-18 | COL 2–5 BOS | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-08 | COL 4–3 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-03 | COL 1–5 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-14 | COL 3–1 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-08 | COL 3–5 NJD | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2020-01-04 | COL 5–2 NJD | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-12-13 | COL 3–1 NJD | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-10-18 | COL 5–3 NJD | 0G 3A 5S | 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.
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Nathan MacKinnon or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 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, Nathan MacKinnon or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have MacKinnon and Zacha done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 6–8. MacKinnon had 18 points (5 goals) and Zacha had 8 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, MacKinnon or Zacha?
- Against each other, MacKinnon has won 23 and Zacha 23 of their 46 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 →