Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Sanderson vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Sanderson had 54 points in 67 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Sanderson has 1 game left; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Sanderson for 1.7 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Jake Sanderson has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Sanderson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.8%, High-danger chances 55.8%, Corsi 55.8%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 34, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Hits 59.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Sanderson
2.40
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.77
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Sanderson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Sanderson | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.60 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 0.96 |
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: Sanderson vs Matheson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Sanderson 4G 9A, 32 SOG · Matheson 2G 5A, 29 SOG
Sanderson blocked 4 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 3 of Sanderson's.
On the ice against each other (Sanderson's side)
23:35 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Sanderson's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–20
- 56.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–0.9
- 68.0%
- Goals
- 4–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Sanderson | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-17 | OTT 5–6 MTL | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-02 | OTT 5–2 MTL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-01 | OTT 3–4 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-11 | OTT 5–2 MTL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-18 | OTT 3–6 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-22 | OTT 2–5 MTL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-12 | OTT 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | OTT 5–4 MTL | 0G 3A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-23 | OTT 4–1 MTL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-18 | OTT 6–2 MTL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-25 | OTT 5–2 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-01-31 | OTT 5–4 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 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.
Jake Sanderson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake Sanderson or Mike Matheson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80. Sanderson had 54 points in 67 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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, Jake Sanderson or Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Sanderson leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Sanderson and Matheson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Sanderson's team went 8–5. Sanderson had 13 points (4 goals) and Matheson had 7 (2 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 →