Who to start · 2025-26
Mike Matheson vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Matheson had 37 points in 78 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Matheson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Noah Cates has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matheson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 100.6, Ascension score 56, 20+ mph bursts 90.
Cates's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, High-danger chances 52.6%, Expected goals 53.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mike Matheson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matheson | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.96 | 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: Matheson vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matheson 1G 4A, 19 SOG · Cates 2G 3A, 20 SOG
Matheson blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Matheson's.
On the ice against each other (Matheson's side)
2:58 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Matheson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–4
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 56.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matheson | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-04 | MTL 4–5 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-05 | MTL 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-27 | MTL 4–6 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-27 | MTL 4–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-09 | MTL 9–3 PHI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-28 | MTL 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-24 | MTL 5–2 PHI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-19 | MTL 5–4 PHI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-24 | PIT 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 6S |
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.
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
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 Mike Matheson or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mike Matheson projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Matheson had 37 points in 78 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, Mike Matheson or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matheson and Cates done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Matheson's team went 5–4. Matheson had 5 points (1 goals) and Cates had 5 (2 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 →