Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, On-ice PDO 1034.
Bennett's biggest edges: Hits 115, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Corsi 53.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Bennett 23–19.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Malkin 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.
Malkin 11G 17A, 47 SOG · Bennett 3G 2A, 40 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 7–9 · neutral 10–10 · Malkin's defensive zone 6–0 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
6:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–4
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 53.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | PIT 5–2 FLA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-04 | PIT 9–4 FLA | 3G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-23 | PIT 5–3 FLA | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-23 | PIT 3–4 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-03 | PIT 2–3 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-03 | PIT 5–4 FLA | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-14 | PIT 2–5 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-26 | PIT 2–3 FLA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-08 | PIT 1–3 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-04 | PIT 1–4 FLA | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-15 | PIT 4–2 FLA | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-03-08 | PIT 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Bennett done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 8–9. Malkin had 28 points (11 goals) and Bennett had 5 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Bennett?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 23 and Bennett 19 of their 42 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 →