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Who to start · 2025-26

Nathan MacKinnon vs Sam Bennett

Nathan MacKinnonNathan MacKinnonAvalanche · CentrevsSam BennettSam BennettPanthers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.

MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.

This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.6.

Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 31 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

MacKinnon's biggest edges: Plus/minus +57, Top skating speed 24.8, Transition attempts /60 1.83.

Bennett's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Hits 115, Penalty minutes 82.

Head to head on the dot, Bennett leads MacKinnon 17–15.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Nathan MacKinnon

3.32

fantasy points per game

Sam Bennett

1.74

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMacKinnonBennett
Goals (+2)1.490.60
Assists (+1)0.870.43
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.09
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.460.25
Hits (+0.1)0.090.19
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.19

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: MacKinnon vs Bennett

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MacKinnonBennett
11Team record in 22 meetings11
27Points in those games14

MacKinnon 11G 16A, 99 SOG · Bennett 6G 8A, 47 SOG

15Faceoffs against each other17

MacKinnon's offensive zone 4–5 · neutral 5–5 · MacKinnon's defensive zone 6–7 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

0Hits on each other2
2Shots blocked by the other0

MacKinnon blocked 2 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 0 of MacKinnon's.

On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)

6:15 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side

Shot attempts
13–2
86.7%
Expected goals
1.0–0.0
98.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett
DateScoreMacKinnonBennett
2026-01-04COL 1–2 FLA0G 0A 5S1G 0A 3S
2025-12-11COL 6–2 FLA1G 1A 7S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-06COL 3–1 FLA0G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2024-11-23COL 7–4 FLA0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-02-10COL 0–4 FLA0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-06COL 4–8 FLA0G 1A 3S0G 1A 1S
2023-02-11COL 5–3 FLA2G 1A 6S1G 0A 5S
2023-01-10COL 4–5 FLA1G 0A 3S1G 1A 5S
2021-12-12COL 3–2 FLA0G 2A 6S0G 0A 3S
2021-10-21COL 1–4 FLA0G 1A 0S1G 0A 4S
2019-10-03COL 5–3 CGY0G 1A 7S0G 1A 1S
2019-04-19 · POCOL 5–1 CGY0G 3A 2S0G 1A 2S

Latest 12 of 22 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MacKinnonBennett

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Nathan MacKinnon

2games (1 left)

2.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 pts
    Schedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Sam Bennett

3games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 pts
    Likely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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, Nathan MacKinnon or Sam Bennett?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 31 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have MacKinnon and Bennett done against each other?
In 22 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 11–11. MacKinnon had 27 points (11 goals) and Bennett had 14 (6 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, MacKinnon or Bennett?
Against each other, MacKinnon has won 15 and Bennett 17 of their 32 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 →