Pavel Zacha or Will Smith? Week 4
Points leagues, Week 4 (Oct 19-25): start Will Smith, narrowly. Both count 1 games left in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to value per game: 1.80 fantasy points to 1.76. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), Cs ranked 40th and 43rd at the position.
Updated Oct 23, 12:49 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
Parlae may earn a commission from price links.
The Week 4 call
Points leagues, Week 4 (Oct 19-25): start Will Smith, narrowly. Both count 1 games left in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to value per game: 1.80 fantasy points to 1.76.
Categories leagues: Pavel Zacha instead, -1.2 category value for the week to -2.7, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over BOS's last 5 games Pavel Zacha played 4 games, 18:02 a night with 2:54 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over SJS's last 5 games Will Smith played 5 games, 20:33 a night with 4:26 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Will Smith's ice time is up: 20:33 over his last 5 games against 18:43 on the board.
SJS has a back-to-back in Week 4.
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 4 (Oct 19-25), side by side
| This week | Pavel Zacha | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 1 | 1 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 18:02 (4) | 20:33 (5) |
| TOI, board | 17:18 | 18:43 |
| PP TOI, last games | 2:54 | 4:26 |
| Shots, last games | 1.8 | 3.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Projected category value | -1.2 | -2.7 |
Schedule: Pavel Zacha Tue @DAL, Thu NSH, Sat SJS. Will Smith Mon @TOR, Tue @MTL, Thu @OTT, Sat @BOS.
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.
Advertisement
The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Will Smith, 1.80 fantasy points per game to 1.76.
Categories leagues: Pavel Zacha instead, 115th overall against 177th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Pavel Zacha | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.2 | -0.2 |
| G goals | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.5 | -1.0 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.7 | -0.9 |
| HIT hits | -0.5 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| SOG shots on goal | -1.1 | 0.2 |
Other close calls
Week 4 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Pavel Zacha or Will Smith in Week 4?
Points leagues, Week 4 (Oct 19-25): start Will Smith, narrowly. Both count 1 games left in Week 4 (Oct 19-25), so it comes down to value per game: 1.80 fantasy points to 1.76. Categories leagues: Pavel Zacha instead, -1.2 category value for the week to -2.7, because his category mix is worth more there. Over BOS's last 5 games Pavel Zacha played 4 games, 18:02 a night with 2:54 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over SJS's last 5 games Will Smith played 5 games, 20:33 a night with 4:26 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Will Smith's ice time is up: 20:33 over his last 5 games against 18:43 on the board. SJS has a back-to-back in Week 4.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Pavel Zacha or Will Smith?
Season-long, points leagues: Will Smith, 1.80 fantasy points per game to 1.76. Categories leagues: Pavel Zacha instead, 115th overall against 177th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Pavel Zacha or Will Smith?
Pavel Zacha is ahead per game in 4 (plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, power-play points); Will Smith in 1 (shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 23, 2026 at 12:49 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number