Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zacha for 1.1 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 21 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1036, Luck Meter +78, Plus/minus +4.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.8%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Offensive-zone start % 60.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Nugent-Hopkins 6–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.78
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Pavel Zacha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.77 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Zacha 3G 0A, 14 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 2G 9A, 16 SOG
Zacha's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 2–3 · Zacha's defensive zone 2–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
13:15 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–11
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.7
- 40.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | BOS 6–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-18 | BOS 1–3 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-07 | BOS 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-19 | BOS 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-03-05 | BOS 1–2 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-09 | BOS 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-27 | BOS 3–2 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-31 | NJD 6–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-11-08 | NJD 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-10-10 | NJD 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2018-10-06 | NJD 5–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2017-11-03 | NJD 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
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)
1.1proj. 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)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 21 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zacha and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 4–8. Zacha had 3 points (3 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 11 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Nugent-Hopkins?
- Against each other, Zacha has won 6 and Nugent-Hopkins 6 of their 12 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 →