Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Dobson vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Dobson's 2.17.
Dobson had 47 points in 80 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Dobson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Dobson's 1.6.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Dobson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.4, Forecheck xG /60 0.38, Plus/minus +5.
Thompson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.008, High-danger chances 49.9%, Hardest shot 97.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Dobson
2.17
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Dobson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.28 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.16 | 0.28 |
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: Dobson vs Thompson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Dobson 3G 9A, 53 SOG · Thompson 10G 13A, 86 SOG
Dobson blocked 2 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 1 of Dobson's.
On the ice against each other (Dobson's side)
58:41 at 5-on-5 over 11 games, 2025-26, from Dobson's side
- Shot attempts
- 75–51
- 59.5%
- Expected goals
- 4.4–2.4
- 64.9%
- Goals
- 5–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dobson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 · PO | MTL 3–2 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-05-16 · PO | MTL 3–8 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 3A 6S |
| 2026-05-14 · PO | MTL 6–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-05-12 · PO | MTL 2–3 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-10 · PO | MTL 6–2 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-05-08 · PO | MTL 5–1 BUF | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-06 · PO | MTL 2–4 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-31 | MTL 4–2 BUF | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2026-01-22 | MTL 2–4 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-15 | MTL 3–5 BUF | 0G 1A 0S | 3G 2A 3S |
| 2025-10-20 | MTL 4–2 BUF | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-23 | NYI 1–7 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Noah Dobson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Dobson or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Dobson's 2.17. Dobson had 47 points in 80 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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 Dobson or Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dobson and Thompson done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Dobson's team went 13–14. Dobson had 12 points (3 goals) and Thompson had 23 (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 →