Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Mantha vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Mantha projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Mantha has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Mantha for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Anthony Mantha has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Mantha's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.0, Goals above expected +9.1, Ascension score 47.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Faceoffs won 467, Expected goals 53.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Mantha
1.67
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Mantha has the edge.
| Points per game from | Mantha | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.30 |
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 Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Mantha 1G 8A, 28 SOG · Cates 1G 5A, 19 SOG
Mantha's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–1 · Mantha's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Mantha's side)
29:48 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Mantha's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–22
- 53.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.9
- 39.9%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Mantha | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NJD 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | PIT 0–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | PIT 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | PIT 4–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | PIT 2–5 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | PIT 0–3 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-07 | PIT 3–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-15 | PIT 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-01 | PIT 5–1 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-28 | PIT 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-12 | CGY 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 17 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 Mantha
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHISchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.8 pts
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Mantha or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Mantha projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Cates had 47 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 Mantha or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Mantha leads in 18 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Mantha's team went 10–7. Mantha had 9 points (1 goals) and Cates had 6 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Mantha or Cates?
- Against each other, Mantha has won 1 and Cates 1 of their 2 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 →