Who to start · 2025-26
Matty Beniers vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73.
Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Beniers has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Beniers for 3.8 ESPN points to Crosby's 2.0.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Beniers's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38, Blocked shots 69, Hardest shot 90.4.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Luck Meter +61, Top skating speed 22.9.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Beniers 28–17.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Beniers | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.58 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.10 |
| 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 Crosby
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 1A, 6 SOG · Crosby 3G 4A, 17 SOG
Beniers's offensive zone 7–3 · neutral 6–13 · Beniers's defensive zone 4–12 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Beniers blocked 1 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 1 of Beniers's.
On the ice against each other (Beniers's side)
4:36 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Beniers's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–5
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Beniers | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | SEA 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-11-22 | SEA 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-25 | SEA 4–1 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-14 | SEA 4–2 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-29 | SEA 2–0 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-05 | SEA 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-29 | SEA 3–1 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matty Beniers or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73. Beniers had 50 points in 82 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 28 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Beniers's team went 6–1. Beniers had 3 points (2 goals) and Crosby had 7 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Beniers or Crosby?
- Against each other, Beniers has won 17 and Crosby 28 of their 45 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 →