Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left. We project Thompson for 2.4 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.8.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Goals above expected −0.1, Penalty minutes 82, Scoring chances 52.5%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, Top skating speed 22.8, Ascension score 48.
Head to head on the dot, Thompson leads Bennett 19–14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
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 | Bennett | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 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: Bennett vs Thompson
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 7G 5A, 51 SOG · Thompson 4G 5A, 56 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 5–4 · neutral 5–6 · Bennett's defensive zone 4–9 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Bennett blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 1 of Bennett's.
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
18:18 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–26
- 44.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.8
- 31.3%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-27 | FLA 2–3 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-02-02 | FLA 3–5 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-12 | FLA 4–3 BUF | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-18 | FLA 0–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-08 | FLA 4–0 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-28 | FLA 5–2 BUF | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-12 | FLA 2–5 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-13 | FLA 3–2 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-27 | FLA 3–2 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2024-02-15 | FLA 4–0 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-16 | FLA 4–1 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-15 | FLA 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 19 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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 pts
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJ
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 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, Sam Bennett or Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 19 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 14–5. Bennett had 12 points (7 goals) and Thompson had 9 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Thompson?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 14 and Thompson 19 of their 33 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 →