Who to start · 2025-26
Matty Beniers vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73.
Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Beniers has 2 games left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Beniers's 3.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Beniers's biggest edges: Ascension score 53, Draw Equity /100 −0.012, Faceoff win % 48.0%.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Goals above expected +5.3, Fenwick 55.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Schmaltz leads Beniers 15–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Beniers | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.58 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.46 | 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: Beniers vs Schmaltz
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.
Beniers 4G 7A, 25 SOG · Schmaltz 5G 7A, 28 SOG
Beniers's offensive zone 2–3 · neutral 3–6 · Beniers's defensive zone 2–6 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Beniers's side)
12:05 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Beniers's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–19
- 42.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.7
- 39.4%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Beniers | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | SEA 2–6 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2026-01-17 | SEA 3–6 UTA | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-12 | SEA 3–5 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-04-08 | SEA 1–7 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-14 | SEA 4–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-30 | SEA 5–2 UTA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-09 | SEA 5–0 ARI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-22 | SEA 1–2 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-07 | SEA 3–4 ARI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-04-10 | SEA 4–1 ARI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-04-06 | SEA 4–2 ARI | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-03 | SEA 8–1 ARI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Matty Beniers
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGY
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.6 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.6 pts
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matty Beniers or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73. Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 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, Matty Beniers or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Beniers and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Beniers's team went 6–6. Beniers had 11 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 12 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Beniers or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Beniers has won 7 and Schmaltz 15 of their 22 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 →