Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak vs Zach Benson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Benson projects to 1.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.34.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Benson had 43 in 65 games.
This week Dvorak has 2 games left; Benson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Benson for 3.2 to Dvorak's 2.8 over the games left.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 629, Blocked shots 52, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
Benson's biggest edges: Ascension score 67, Fenwick 52.7%, Corsi 52.3%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Zach Benson rates ahead, +3.0 to -0.6 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Dvorak is steady, ixG/60 0.21 (was 0.71); Benson is rising, +2:28 PP TOI.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 2 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 9 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 1 PPP, 18 SOG.
Philadelphia Flyers · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
-0.6
category z-score total
Zach Benson
+3.0
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Zach Benson has the edge (Dvorak wins 1, Benson wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Dvorak | Benson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.21 | 0.13 |
| Assists / game | 0.31 | 0.54 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.04 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.51 | 1.87 |
| Hits / game | 0.85 | 0.93 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Dvorak vs Benson
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.
Dvorak 1G 4A, 18 SOG · Benson 0G 3A, 14 SOG
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
11:05 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–11
- 57.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–0.7
- 70.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-14 | PHI 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-18 | PHI 3–5 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-12-03 | PHI 5–2 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-03 | MTL 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-01 | MTL 4–2 BUF | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-17 | MTL 6–1 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-11 | MTL 7–5 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-09 | MTL 3–2 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Christian Dvorak
3games (2 left)
2.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 15th-most FP to CLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.4 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.4 pts
Zach Benson
2games
3.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.7 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.5 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Christian Dvorak or Zach Benson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Benson projects to 1.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.34. Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Benson had 43 in 65 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, Christian Dvorak or Zach Benson?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Dvorak and Benson done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 6–2. Dvorak had 5 points (1 goals) and Benson had 3 (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 →