Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stamkos for 2.0 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: Plus/minus +4, On-ice PDO 1036, Luck Meter +68.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.43, High-danger chances 53.8%, Scoring chances 52.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Stamkos leads Zacha 33–18.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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 9A, 46 SOG · Stamkos 9G 19A, 75 SOG
Zacha's offensive zone 6–12 · neutral 5–13 · Zacha's defensive zone 7–8 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Zacha blocked 1 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 0 of Zacha's.
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
6:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–7
- 61.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 53.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | BOS 3–6 NSH | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2026-01-27 | BOS 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-04 | BOS 3–6 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-10-22 | BOS 0–4 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-27 | BOS 1–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-13 | BOS 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | BOS 7–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-20 | BOS 4–5 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-03-25 | BOS 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-26 | BOS 2–3 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-29 | BOS 3–1 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-21 | BOS 5–3 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 28 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)
1.0proj. 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)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos leads in 26 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 28 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 11–17. Zacha had 12 points (3 goals) and Stamkos had 28 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Zacha has won 18 and Stamkos 33 of their 51 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 →