Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Mantha vs Matthew Knies
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Mantha's 1.67.
Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.
This week Mantha has 1 game left; Knies has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Mantha for 1.4 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.
Anthony Mantha has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Mantha's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, High-danger chances 51.2%, Expected goals 49.2%.
Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Ascension score 56, Ice-time share 30.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Mantha
1.67
fantasy points per game
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matthew Knies has the edge.
| Points per game from | Mantha | Knies |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Mantha vs Knies
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Mantha 1G 0A, 6 SOG · Knies 0G 4A, 2 SOG
On the ice against each other (Mantha's side)
9:16 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Mantha's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–4
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 85.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Mantha | Knies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | PIT 3–6 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-29 | PIT 2–7 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-11-03 | PIT 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-10-24 | WSH 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 Mantha
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.4 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Mantha or Matthew Knies in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Mantha's 1.67. Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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 Mantha or Matthew Knies?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Mantha leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Mantha and Knies done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Mantha's team went 0–4. Mantha had 1 points (1 goals) and Knies had 4 (0 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 →

