Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Expected goals 52.1%, Hits 115.
Crosby's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Faceoff win % 55.2%, Goals above expected +6.6.
Head to head on the dot, Crosby leads Bennett 23–14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.21 |
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 Crosby
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.
Bennett 3G 2A, 40 SOG · Crosby 7G 16A, 45 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 4–4 · neutral 7–11 · Bennett's defensive zone 3–8 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
6:06 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–4
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 73.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | FLA 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2026-04-04 | FLA 4–9 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-10-23 | FLA 3–5 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-23 | FLA 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-01-03 | FLA 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-03 | FLA 4–5 PIT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-14 | FLA 5–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-26 | FLA 3–2 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-12-08 | FLA 3–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-04 | FLA 4–1 PIT | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-12-15 | FLA 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2022-03-08 | FLA 4–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Bennett and Crosby done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 9–7. Bennett had 5 points (3 goals) and Crosby had 23 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Crosby?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 14 and Crosby 23 of their 37 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 →