Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Shane Pinto
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shane Pinto projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Pinto had 46 in 72 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left; Pinto has 1 left. We project Pinto for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.2.
Shane Pinto has the better number in 21 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, On-ice PDO 1026, Plus/minus +26.
Pinto's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.6, Draw Equity /100 +0.042, Forecheck xG /60 0.40.
Head to head on the dot, Pinto leads Cates 13–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.45
fantasy points per game
Shane Pinto
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Shane Pinto has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Pinto |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.44 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.35 |
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: Cates vs Pinto
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.
Cates 2G 1A, 15 SOG · Pinto 2G 5A, 23 SOG
Cates's offensive zone 0–5 · neutral 6–5 · Cates's defensive zone 1–3 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Cates blocked 1 of Pinto's shots; Pinto blocked 0 of Cates's.
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
8:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–5
- 61.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 63.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Pinto |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | PHI 1–2 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-08 | PHI 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-23 | PHI 1–2 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-13 | PHI 3–4 OTT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-11 | PHI 2–5 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-14 | PHI 5–4 OTT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | PHI 4–2 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-21 | PHI 3–5 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-30 | PHI 4–5 OTT | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-12 | PHI 1–4 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-05 | PHI 2–1 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 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.
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.2 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Shane Pinto
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Shane Pinto in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Shane Pinto projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Pinto had 46 in 72 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, Noah Cates or Shane Pinto?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Shane Pinto leads in 21 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cates and Pinto done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 3–8. Cates had 3 points (2 goals) and Pinto had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cates or Pinto?
- Against each other, Cates has won 7 and Pinto 13 of their 20 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 →