Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Ascension score 55, Goals above expected +3.0.
Bennett's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.6%, Hardest shot 92.9, Power-play time per game 3:13.
Head to head on the dot, Bennett leads Cirelli 40–36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.19 |
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 Bennett
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 4G 11A, 52 SOG · Bennett 10G 17A, 95 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 8–5 · neutral 15–18 · Cirelli's defensive zone 13–17 (2020-21 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 2 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 2 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
3:29 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–3
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 77.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-27 | TBL 4–2 FLA | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-15 | TBL 2–5 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-30 · PO | TBL 3–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | TBL 2–4 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | TBL 5–1 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | TBL 0–2 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | TBL 2–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-15 | TBL 5–1 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-03 | TBL 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-23 | TBL 4–0 FLA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-22 | TBL 2–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | TBL 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 34 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to C
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to C
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Cirelli and Bennett done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 17–17. Cirelli had 15 points (4 goals) and Bennett had 27 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Bennett?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 36 and Bennett 40 of their 76 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 →