Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.2 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.8.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1036, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Plus/minus +4.
Crosby's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Offensive-zone start % 66.5%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Zacha 49–42.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.21 |
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 Crosby
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 5G 17A, 50 SOG · Crosby 9G 19A, 78 SOG
Zacha's offensive zone 16–12 · neutral 12–13 · Zacha's defensive zone 14–24 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
4:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–5
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-11 | BOS 1–0 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-13 | BOS 4–1 PIT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | BOS 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-29 | BOS 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-13 | BOS 6–4 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-09 | BOS 5–1 PIT | 2G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-04 | BOS 5–6 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2023-04-01 | BOS 4–3 PIT | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-02 | BOS 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-01 | BOS 6–5 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-13 | NJD 2–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-02-24 | NJD 6–1 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 27 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 (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.8 pts
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 27 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 16–11. Zacha had 22 points (5 goals) and Crosby had 28 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Crosby?
- Against each other, Zacha has won 42 and Crosby 49 of their 91 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 →