Who to start · 2025-26
Matty Beniers vs Robert Thomas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Robert Thomas projects to 1.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73.
Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 games.
This week Beniers has 2 games left; Thomas has 1 left. We project Beniers for 3.1 ESPN points to Thomas's 2.0.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Beniers's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.4, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38, Blocked shots 69.
Thomas's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.4, Plus/minus +22, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.004.
Head to head on the dot, Thomas leads Beniers 40–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Robert Thomas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Beniers | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.58 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.46 | 0.29 |
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 Thomas
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, 16 SOG · Thomas 4G 10A, 12 SOG
Beniers's offensive zone 5–13 · neutral 12–16 · Beniers's defensive zone 8–11 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Beniers blocked 1 of Thomas's shots; Thomas blocked 0 of Beniers's.
On the ice against each other (Beniers's side)
5:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Beniers's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.4
- 43.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Beniers | Thomas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | SEA 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-08 | SEA 4–3 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-12 | SEA 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-25 | SEA 2–7 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-08 | SEA 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-14 | SEA 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-26 | SEA 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-14 | SEA 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-28 | SEA 5–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-20 | SEA 5–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-10-19 | SEA 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 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)
3.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGY
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.6 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.6 pts
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matty Beniers or Robert Thomas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Robert Thomas projects to 1.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73. Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 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 Robert Thomas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 22 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 Thomas done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Beniers's team went 4–7. Beniers had 1 points (0 goals) and Thomas had 14 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Beniers or Thomas?
- Against each other, Beniers has won 25 and Thomas 40 of their 65 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 →

