Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Shane Pinto
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Shane Pinto's 1.72.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Pinto had 46 in 72 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Pinto has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Pinto's 1.3.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 18 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.1%, Offensive-zone time 45.6%, Power-play share 62.8%.
Pinto's biggest edges: Plus/minus +6, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.04, Transition attempts /60 1.56.
Head to head on the dot, Pinto leads Bennett 18–13.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.83
fantasy points per game
Shane Pinto
1.72
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Pinto |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Bennett 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.
Bennett 1G 5A, 31 SOG · Pinto 4G 2A, 17 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 5–7 · neutral 2–9 · Bennett's defensive zone 6–2 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
Bennett blocked 0 of Pinto's shots; Pinto blocked 2 of Bennett's.
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
8:53 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–12
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.4
- 25.9%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Pinto |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | FLA 1–5 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-31 | FLA 6–3 OTT | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-10 | FLA 3–2 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-11 | FLA 6–2 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2025-04-05 | FLA 0–3 OTT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-10 | FLA 1–3 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-09 | FLA 2–0 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-04 | FLA 6–0 OTT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-20 | FLA 3–2 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-10-29 | FLA 5–3 OTT | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 1S |
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.
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to C
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to C
Shane Pinto
1games
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett or Shane Pinto in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Shane Pinto's 1.72. Bennett had 58 points in 76 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, Sam Bennett or Shane Pinto?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 18 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Bennett and Pinto done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 7–3. Bennett had 6 points (1 goals) and Pinto had 6 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Pinto?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 13 and Pinto 18 of their 31 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 →