Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.08, Goals above expected +3.9.
Bennett's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 517, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Hits 115.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.19 |
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: Kucherov 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.
Kucherov 15G 36A, 108 SOG · Bennett 10G 14A, 99 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 3 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
12:57 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–15
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.5
- 59.0%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | TBL 6–1 FLA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-27 | TBL 4–2 FLA | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-15 | TBL 2–5 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-15 | TBL 3–1 FLA | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-30 · PO | TBL 3–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | TBL 2–4 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | TBL 5–1 FLA | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | TBL 0–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | TBL 2–6 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-15 | TBL 5–1 FLA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-03 | TBL 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-23 | TBL 4–0 FLA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 36 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.
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.
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 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, Nikita Kucherov or Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kucherov and Bennett done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 21–15. Kucherov had 51 points (15 goals) and Bennett had 24 (10 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 →