Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Robert Thomas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Robert Thomas projects to 1.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Thomas has 1 left. We project Thomas for 1.9 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.0, Hits 64, Shots on goal 131.
Thomas's biggest edges: Expected goals 57.2%, Sequence xG 56.9%, High-danger chances 54.0%.
Head to head on the dot, Thomas leads Zacha 18–14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Robert Thomas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.29 |
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 Thomas
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zacha 4G 5A, 20 SOG · Thomas 4G 3A, 13 SOG
Zacha's offensive zone 4–3 · neutral 2–6 · Zacha's defensive zone 8–9 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
7:13 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–9
- 47.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 54.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Thomas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | BOS 5–2 STL | 1G 0A 6S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-04 | BOS 5–2 STL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-11 | BOS 1–5 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-07 | BOS 3–1 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-06 | NJD 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-10 | NJD 7–4 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-03-06 | NJD 4–2 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-02-18 | NJD 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-03-30 | NJD 2–3 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2019-02-12 | NJD 3–8 STL | 1G 0A 3S | 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.
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)
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Robert Thomas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Robert Thomas projects to 1.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 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 Robert Thomas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 22 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 Thomas done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 6–4. Zacha had 9 points (4 goals) and Thomas had 7 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Thomas?
- Against each other, Zacha has won 14 and Thomas 18 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 →