Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Robert Thomas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Thomas has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Thomas's 1.8.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.09, Hardest shot 88.3, Shots on goal 227.
Thomas's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.4, Luck Meter +53, Top skating speed 23.3.
Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads Thomas 25–19.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.29 |
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: Matthews vs Thomas
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2023-24: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matthews 6G 4A, 29 SOG · Thomas 1G 7A, 13 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 9–7 · neutral 11–6 · Matthews's defensive zone 5–6 (2019-20 to 2023-24)
Matthews blocked 0 of Thomas's shots; Thomas blocked 1 of Matthews's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Thomas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-19 | TOR 4–2 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-13 | TOR 4–1 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-03 | TOR 5–6 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-27 | TOR 5–4 STL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-01-15 | TOR 6–5 STL | 1G 1A 8S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-02-19 | TOR 3–6 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-12-07 | TOR 5–2 STL | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-02-19 | TOR 2–3 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.8 ptsSchedule edge −12.8 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Robert Thomas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 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, Auston Matthews or Robert Thomas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matthews and Thomas done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 5–3. Matthews had 10 points (6 goals) and Thomas had 8 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Thomas?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 25 and Thomas 19 of their 44 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 →