Who to start · 2025-26
Matty Beniers vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73.
Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Beniers has 2 games left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Beniers for 3.1 ESPN points to Kucherov's 3.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 30 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Beniers's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 515, Blocked shots 69, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Fenwick 55.9%, Corsi 56.2%.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Beniers | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.58 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.46 | 0.21 |
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 Kucherov
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 0G 1A, 17 SOG · Kucherov 6G 9A, 31 SOG
Beniers blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Beniers's.
On the ice against each other (Beniers's side)
16:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Beniers's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–21
- 38.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–1.1
- 26.9%
- Goals
- 1–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Beniers | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | SEA 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-17 | SEA 2–6 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 3G 2A 7S |
| 2025-02-23 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | SEA 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-12-09 | SEA 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2023-10-30 | SEA 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2023-01-16 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-13 | SEA 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 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
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH3.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matty Beniers or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73. Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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 Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 30 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Beniers and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Beniers's team went 2–6. Beniers had 1 points (0 goals) and Kucherov had 15 (6 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 →