Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Buchnevich vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Buchnevich has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Buchnevich for 1.5 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.1.
Pavel Zacha has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Expected goals 52.5%, Sequence xG 52.5%, Forecheck xG /60 0.31.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.8, Luck Meter +78, Faceoff win % 53.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Pavel Zacha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Buchnevich | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.46 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Buchnevich 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.
Buchnevich 3G 14A, 45 SOG · Zacha 4G 7A, 40 SOG
Buchnevich's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–3 · Buchnevich's defensive zone 0–0 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Buchnevich's side)
7:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Buchnevich's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–5
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 73.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Buchnevich | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | STL 2–5 BOS | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-04 | STL 2–5 BOS | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-16 | STL 3–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-12 | STL 2–3 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-11 | STL 5–1 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-07 | STL 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-06 | STL 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-10 | STL 4–7 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-03-06 | NYR 6–3 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-02-16 | NYR 2–5 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-03-04 | NYR 6–1 NJD | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-01-19 | NYR 3–4 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −16.8 win%Likely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.1 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Buchnevich or Pavel Zacha in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Buchnevich had 48 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, Pavel Buchnevich or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Zacha leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Buchnevich and Zacha done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Buchnevich's team went 8–13. Buchnevich had 17 points (3 goals) and Zacha had 11 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Buchnevich or Zacha?
- Against each other, Buchnevich has won 0 and Zacha 5 of their 5 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 →