Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Thompson's 2.6.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.9, Draw Equity /100 +0.036, Faceoff win % 52.1%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 60.8%, Corsi 50.3%, Sequence xG 50.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads Thompson 23–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.28 |
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: Stephenson vs Thompson
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.
Stephenson 6G 7A, 12 SOG · Thompson 5G 3A, 42 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 7–4 · neutral 10–2 · Stephenson's defensive zone 6–4 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
17:04 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–19
- 44.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.3
- 16.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | SEA 2–3 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-12-14 | SEA 1–3 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-20 | SEA 6–4 BUF | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-11 | SEA 6–2 BUF | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-03-02 | VGK 2–7 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-15 | VGK 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-19 | VGK 2–3 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-10 | VGK 7–4 BUF | 1G 3A 1S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2022-03-10 | VGK 1–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-02-23 | WSH 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-12-21 | WSH 2–1 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2018-12-15 | WSH 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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, Chandler Stephenson or Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Stephenson and Thompson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 6–7. Stephenson had 13 points (6 goals) and Thompson had 8 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or Thompson?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 23 and Thompson 10 of their 33 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 →