Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.6 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.8.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.22, Faceoff win % 59.7%, Transition attempts /60 2.09.
Bennett's biggest edges: Corsi 53.1%, Penalty minutes 82, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018.
Head to head on the dot, Matthews leads Bennett 36–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 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: Matthews vs Bennett
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matthews 11G 18A, 145 SOG · Bennett 9G 11A, 85 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 12–5 · neutral 12–10 · Matthews's defensive zone 12–10 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Matthews blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Matthews's.
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
10:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–9
- 47.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 58.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-26 | TOR 1–5 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-06 | TOR 4–1 FLA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-02 | TOR 4–1 FLA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-05-18 · PO | TOR 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-16 · PO | TOR 2–0 FLA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-14 · PO | TOR 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-11 · PO | TOR 0–2 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-05-09 · PO | TOR 4–5 FLA | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-05-07 · PO | TOR 4–3 FLA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-05 · PO | TOR 5–4 FLA | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-04-02 | TOR 3–2 FLA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-13 | TOR 2–3 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 36 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.
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.6 pts
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. Matthews had 53 points in 60 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, Auston Matthews or Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 20–16. Matthews had 29 points (11 goals) and Bennett had 20 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Bennett?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 36 and Bennett 25 of their 61 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 →