Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.13, Ascension score 53.
Bennett's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Offensive-zone start % 58.1%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Bennett 26–18.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eriksson Ek | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Eriksson Ek 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.
Eriksson Ek 6G 8A, 41 SOG · Bennett 3G 1A, 29 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 3–5 · neutral 11–4 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 12–9 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Eriksson Ek blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Eriksson Ek's.
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
9:46 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–8
- 61.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 48.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | MIN 3–2 FLA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-24 | MIN 3–4 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-22 | MIN 5–1 FLA | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-19 | MIN 6–4 FLA | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-13 | MIN 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-21 | MIN 3–5 FLA | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-18 | MIN 2–6 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-20 | MIN 4–5 FLA | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2020-01-09 | MIN 1–2 CGY | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-01-05 | MIN 4–5 CGY | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-23 | MIN 3–0 CGY | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-03-02 | MIN 4–2 CGY | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
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 Joel Eriksson Ek or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Bennett done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 7–10. Eriksson Ek had 14 points (6 goals) and Bennett had 4 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Bennett?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 26 and Bennett 18 of their 44 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 →