Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Matty Beniers
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matty Beniers projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Beniers had 50 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Beniers has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Beniers for 3.8 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Corsi 56.1%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002.
Beniers's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38, Offensive-zone time 43.9%, Hardest shot 90.4.
Head to head on the dot, Beniers leads Cirelli 12–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matty Beniers has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Beniers |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.46 |
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: Cirelli vs Beniers
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 3G 7A, 17 SOG · Beniers 0G 1A, 17 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 4–4 · neutral 4–4 · Cirelli's defensive zone 3–4 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
15:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–12
- 64.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.4
- 70.8%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Beniers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | TBL 3–4 SEA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-17 | TBL 6–2 SEA | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-23 | TBL 4–1 SEA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-14 | TBL 5–1 SEA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-09 | TBL 4–3 SEA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-30 | TBL 3–4 SEA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-16 | TBL 4–1 SEA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-13 | TBL 6–2 SEA | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Matty Beniers
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Matty Beniers in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matty Beniers projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Beniers had 50 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, Anthony Cirelli or Matty Beniers?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Beniers done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 6–2. Cirelli had 10 points (3 goals) and Beniers had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Beniers?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 11 and Beniers 12 of their 23 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 →