Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stamkos for 2.0 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Steven Stamkos has the better number in 18 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Fenwick 51.4%, Corsi 53.1%.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.085, Goals above expected +5.9.
Head to head on the dot, Stamkos leads Bennett 34–20.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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 9G 14A, 81 SOG · Stamkos 17G 14A, 89 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 10–19 · neutral 5–9 · Bennett's defensive zone 5–6 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Bennett blocked 0 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 3 of Bennett's.
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
3:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–2
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 75.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-04 | FLA 1–2 NSH | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-24 | FLA 8–3 NSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-25 | FLA 4–1 NSH | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-07 | FLA 6–2 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | FLA 3–2 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-21 · PO | FLA 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-16 | FLA 3–5 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-17 | FLA 9–2 TBL | 2G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-27 | FLA 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-06 | FLA 7–1 TBL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-10 | FLA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-10-21 | FLA 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 28 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)
Steven Stamkos
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 Sam Bennett or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Steven Stamkos 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 Bennett and Stamkos done against each other?
- In 28 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 12–16. Bennett had 23 points (9 goals) and Stamkos had 31 (17 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 20 and Stamkos 34 of their 54 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 →