Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Hischier for 1.9 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: High-danger chances 55.2%, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.28.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Luck Meter +68, On-ice PDO 1036.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Zacha 16–16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 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: Hischier 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.
Hischier 3G 8A, 20 SOG · Zacha 4G 4A, 14 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 7–6 · neutral 3–7 · Hischier's defensive zone 6–3 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 1 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 0 of Hischier's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
10:32 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–9
- 65.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.4
- 64.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | NJD 0–4 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-03-16 | NJD 4–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-06 | NJD 1–4 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-04-15 | NJD 5–4 BOS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-08 | NJD 2–7 BOS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-22 | NJD 5–1 BOS | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-15 | NJD 0–3 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-30 | NJD 2–5 BOS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-08 | NJD 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-28 | NJD 1–3 BOS | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-23 | NJD 3–4 BOS | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
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.
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
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 Nico Hischier or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Hischier had 66 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, Nico Hischier or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hischier and Zacha done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 3–8. Hischier had 11 points (3 goals) and Zacha had 8 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Zacha?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 16 and Zacha 16 of their 32 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 →