Who to start · 2025-26
Matt Boldy vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matt Boldy projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Boldy had 85 points in 76 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Boldy has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Boldy for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Matt Boldy has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Boldy's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.6, Ascension score 52, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Forecheck xG /60 0.28, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matt Boldy
2.55
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matt Boldy has the edge.
| Points per game from | Boldy | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.34 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.36 | 0.30 |
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: Boldy vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Boldy 6G 3A, 29 SOG · Cates 2G 2A, 13 SOG
Boldy's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–0 · Boldy's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Boldy's side)
8:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Boldy's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–9
- 30.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.5
- 2.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Boldy | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | MIN 2–3 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-18 | MIN 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | MIN 4–1 PHI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | MIN 5–7 PHI | 0G 1A 9S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-03-23 | MIN 4–5 PHI | 2G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-01-26 | MIN 3–2 PHI | 2G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-29 | MIN 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Matt Boldy
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 12th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matt Boldy or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matt Boldy projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Boldy had 85 points in 76 games; Cates had 47 in 82 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, Matt Boldy or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Matt Boldy leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Boldy and Cates done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Boldy's team went 3–4. Boldy had 9 points (6 goals) and Cates had 4 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Boldy or Cates?
- Against each other, Boldy has won 2 and Cates 0 of their 2 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 →