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Who to start · 2025-26

Pavel Zacha vs Rickard Rakell

Pavel ZachaPavel ZachaBruins · CentrevsRickard RakellRickard RakellPenguins · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.

Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.

This week Zacha has 1 game left; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.

Rickard Rakell has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Zacha's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 53.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.035, Penalty minutes 28.

Rakell's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Offensive-zone start % 66.1%.

Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Rakell 10–4.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Pavel Zacha

1.70

fantasy points per game

Rickard Rakell

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromZachaRakell
Goals (+2)0.680.75
Assists (+1)0.400.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.120.16
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.180.27
Hits (+0.1)0.080.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.240.34

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: Zacha vs Rakell

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.

ZachaRakell
13Team record in 17 meetings4
20Points in those games8

Zacha 9G 11A, 34 SOG · Rakell 4G 4A, 43 SOG

10Faceoffs against each other4

Zacha's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 5–3 · Zacha's defensive zone 3–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)

15:28 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side

Shot attempts
7–20
25.9%
Expected goals
0.2–1.2
13.4%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Pavel Zacha and Rickard Rakell
DateScoreZachaRakell
2026-03-08BOS 4–5 PIT3G 0A 4S0G 1A 1S
2026-03-03BOS 2–1 PIT0G 1A 0S0G 0A 3S
2026-01-11BOS 1–0 PIT0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2025-04-13BOS 4–1 PIT0G 2A 1S1G 0A 5S
2025-03-01BOS 3–2 PIT0G 2A 0S1G 0A 5S
2024-11-29BOS 1–2 PIT0G 0A 2S1G 0A 4S
2024-04-13BOS 6–4 PIT1G 1A 4S0G 1A 0S
2024-03-09BOS 5–1 PIT2G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-01-04BOS 5–6 PIT0G 0A 1S0G 1A 3S
2023-04-01BOS 4–3 PIT0G 3A 2S0G 0A 1S
2023-01-02BOS 2–1 PIT0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2022-11-01BOS 6–5 PIT1G 0A 4S1G 0A 3S

Latest 12 of 17 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.

ZachaRakell

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 Zacha

3games (1 left)

1.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 pts
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)

Rickard Rakell

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Pavel Zacha or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Zacha or Rickard Rakell?
On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Zacha and Rakell done against each other?
In 17 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 13–4. Zacha had 20 points (9 goals) and Rakell had 8 (4 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Rakell?
Against each other, Zacha has won 10 and Rakell 4 of their 14 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 →