Who to start · 2025-26
Matty Beniers vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matty Beniers projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Beniers has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Beniers for 3.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Matty Beniers has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Beniers's biggest edges: Ascension score 53, Hardest shot 90.4, 20+ mph bursts 130.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Plus/minus +26, Hits 102.
Head to head on the dot, Cates leads Beniers 12–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matty Beniers has the edge.
| Points per game from | Beniers | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.58 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| 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 Cates
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 2G 4A, 5 SOG · Cates 1G 2A, 9 SOG
Beniers's offensive zone 3–5 · neutral 3–5 · Beniers's defensive zone 3–2 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Beniers blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Beniers's.
On the ice against each other (Beniers's side)
8:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Beniers's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–7
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 55.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Beniers | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-28 | SEA 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-20 | SEA 2–5 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-08 | SEA 4–1 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-10 | SEA 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-16 | SEA 6–2 PHI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-02-12 | SEA 4–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
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 Matty Beniers or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matty Beniers projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Beniers had 50 points in 82 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, Matty Beniers or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Matty Beniers 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 Beniers and Cates done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Beniers's team went 4–2. Beniers had 6 points (2 goals) and Cates had 3 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Beniers or Cates?
- Against each other, Beniers has won 9 and Cates 12 of their 21 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 →