Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.69.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Zacha has 2 games left; Bennett has 1 left. We project Zacha for 2.4 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.6.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: Plus/minus +4, Faceoff win % 53.3%, Goals above expected +8.8.
Bennett's biggest edges: High-danger chances 52.2%, Offensive-zone start % 58.1%, Forecheck xG /60 0.31.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Bennett 18–15.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.69
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.72 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.19 |
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 Bennett
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 8G 10A, 61 SOG · Bennett 10G 8A, 76 SOG
Zacha's offensive zone 5–10 · neutral 4–1 · Zacha's defensive zone 9–4 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Zacha blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Zacha's.
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
9:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–11
- 38.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 21.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | BOS 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-10-21 | BOS 3–4 FLA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-11 | BOS 3–2 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-11 | BOS 4–3 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-14 | BOS 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-08 | BOS 4–6 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-05-17 · PO | BOS 1–2 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | BOS 2–1 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-12 · PO | BOS 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-05-10 · PO | BOS 2–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-06 | BOS 3–2 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-26 | BOS 4–3 FLA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 29 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 Zacha
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG1.3 ptsSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 ptsLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.69. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 19 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 12–17. Zacha had 18 points (8 goals) and Bennett had 18 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Bennett?
- Against each other, Zacha has won 18 and Bennett 15 of their 33 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 →