Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tarasenko for 1.2 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Pavel Zacha has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 524, Hardest shot 93.0, Plus/minus +4.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Forecheck xG /60 0.28, High-danger chances 49.3%.
- • 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
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Pavel Zacha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.77 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 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 Tarasenko
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 6G 9A, 35 SOG · Tarasenko 4G 12A, 43 SOG
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
8:04 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–5
- 73.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.0
- 99.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | BOS 6–3 MIN | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-14 | BOS 2–6 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-29 | BOS 1–2 DET | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-03 | BOS 3–2 DET | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-23 | BOS 2–1 DET | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-05-17 · PO | BOS 1–2 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 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 | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-05-10 · PO | BOS 2–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-08 · PO | BOS 1–6 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-06 · PO | BOS 5–1 FLA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-06 | BOS 3–2 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 22 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 C
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Vladimir Tarasenko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Zacha projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 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 Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Zacha leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zacha and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 12–10. Zacha had 15 points (6 goals) and Tarasenko had 16 (4 goals).
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 →