Pavel Zacha or Sam Bennett? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Pavel Zacha. Pavel Zacha counts 3 games left to 2 for Sam Bennett, for 5.0 projected fantasy points against 3.4. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), Cs ranked 47th and 49th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Pavel Zacha. Pavel Zacha counts 3 games left to 2 for Sam Bennett, for 5.0 projected fantasy points against 3.4.
Categories leagues: Sam Bennett instead, -4.5 category value for the week to -7.1, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over BOS's last 5 games Pavel Zacha played 5 games, 18:57 a night with 2:32 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Pavel Zacha's ice time is up: 18:57 over his last 5 games against 17:12 on the board.
Over FLA's last 5 games Sam Bennett played 5 games, 18:43 a night with 4:19 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
BOS has a back-to-back and FLA has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | Pavel Zacha | Sam Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 3 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP2 |
| TOI, last games | 18:57 (5) | 18:43 (5) |
| TOI, board | 17:12 | 18:39 |
| PP TOI, last games | 2:32 | 4:19 |
| Shots, last games | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.0 | 3.4 |
| Projected category value | -7.1 | -4.5 |
Schedule: Pavel Zacha Tue @SJS, Fri @ANA, Sat @LAK. Sam Bennett Mon @BUF, Tue @CBJ, Thu VAN, Sat SEA.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
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The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Sam Bennett, 1.72 fantasy points per game to 1.68.
Categories leagues: Sam Bennett again, 157th overall against 162nd.
| Category (z per game) | Pavel Zacha | Sam Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.6 | -0.4 |
| G goals | 0.2 | -0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.1 | -0.8 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.6 | -0.8 |
| HIT hits | -0.4 | 0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.1 | -0.8 |
| SOG shots on goal | -1.1 | 0.0 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Pavel Zacha or Sam Bennett in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Pavel Zacha. Pavel Zacha counts 3 games left to 2 for Sam Bennett, for 5.0 projected fantasy points against 3.4. Categories leagues: Sam Bennett instead, -4.5 category value for the week to -7.1, because his category mix is worth more there. Over BOS's last 5 games Pavel Zacha played 5 games, 18:57 a night with 2:32 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Pavel Zacha's ice time is up: 18:57 over his last 5 games against 17:12 on the board. Over FLA's last 5 games Sam Bennett played 5 games, 18:43 a night with 4:19 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. BOS has a back-to-back and FLA has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Pavel Zacha or Sam Bennett?
Season-long, points leagues: Sam Bennett, 1.72 fantasy points per game to 1.68. Categories leagues: Sam Bennett again, 157th overall against 162nd.
Who wins more categories, Pavel Zacha or Sam Bennett?
Pavel Zacha is ahead per game in 4 (goals, plus-minus, blocked shots, power-play points); Sam Bennett in 3 (assists, hits, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number