Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.8, Faceoff win % 53.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.035.
Thompson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, 20+ mph bursts 176, Offensive-zone start % 60.8%.
Head to head on the dot, Zacha leads Thompson 33–19.
- • 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, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.28 |
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 Thompson
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 11G 14A, 57 SOG · Thompson 14G 16A, 116 SOG
Zacha's offensive zone 12–4 · neutral 9–7 · Zacha's defensive zone 12–8 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Zacha blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Zacha's.
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
49:26 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 47–44
- 51.6%
- Expected goals
- 2.1–1.9
- 52.5%
- Goals
- 1–4
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | BOS 1–4 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | BOS 2–1 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | BOS 1–6 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-23 · PO | BOS 1–3 BUF | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | BOS 4–2 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | BOS 3–4 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2026-03-25 | BOS 4–3 BUF | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-12-27 | BOS 1–4 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-10-30 | BOS 4–3 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2025-10-11 | BOS 3–1 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2025-04-06 | BOS 3–6 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-17 | BOS 2–3 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 31 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 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 28 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 16–15. Zacha had 25 points (11 goals) and Thompson had 30 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zacha or Thompson?
- Against each other, Zacha has won 33 and Thompson 19 of their 52 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 →