Who to start · 2025-26
Robert Thomas vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89.
Thomas had 64 points in 64 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Thomas has 1 game left; O'Reilly has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project O'Reilly for 2.0 ESPN points to Thomas's 1.9.
Ryan O'Reilly has the better number in 18 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Thomas's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.3, Expected goals 57.2%, Sequence xG 56.9%.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Blocked shots 66, Shots on goal 154.
Head to head on the dot, O'Reilly leads Thomas 57–51.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan O'Reilly has the edge.
| Points per game from | Thomas | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.38 |
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: Thomas vs O'Reilly
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Thomas 4G 11A, 18 SOG · O'Reilly 3G 6A, 18 SOG
Thomas's offensive zone 23–14 · neutral 13–26 · Thomas's defensive zone 15–17 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Thomas's side)
21:27 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Thomas's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–26
- 43.5%
- Expected goals
- 2.1–1.8
- 53.3%
- Goals
- 2–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Thomas | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-27 | STL 3–2 NSH | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-15 | STL 2–5 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | STL 2–7 NSH | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-27 | STL 3–2 NSH | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-23 | STL 4–1 NSH | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-18 | STL 4–1 NSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-27 | STL 7–4 NSH | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-04 | STL 3–6 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-02-17 | STL 2–5 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-24 | STL 3–8 NSH | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
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.
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Robert Thomas or Ryan O'Reilly in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89. Thomas had 64 points in 64 games; O'Reilly had 74 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, Robert Thomas or Ryan O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan O'Reilly leads in 18 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Thomas and O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Thomas's team went 5–5. Thomas had 15 points (4 goals) and O'Reilly had 9 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Thomas or O'Reilly?
- Against each other, Thomas has won 51 and O'Reilly 57 of their 108 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 →