Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Luck Meter +20, On-ice PDO 1007, Goals above expected −0.1.
Hertl's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Faceoff win % 57.8%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.06.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Bennett 28–20.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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 2G 3A, 49 SOG · Hertl 8G 7A, 34 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 12–10 · neutral 4–6 · Bennett's defensive zone 4–12 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Bennett blocked 0 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 1 of Bennett's.
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
6:53 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–11
- 21.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 6.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-10 | FLA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-25 | FLA 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-26 | FLA 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-19 | FLA 4–3 VGK | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-14 | FLA 5–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-09 | FLA 4–1 SJS | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-03 | FLA 4–3 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-15 | FLA 3–2 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-01-29 | FLA 5–4 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2019-10-13 | CGY 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2019-02-07 | CGY 2–5 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2018-12-31 | CGY 8–5 SJS | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 17 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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 20 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 9–8. Bennett had 5 points (2 goals) and Hertl had 15 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Hertl?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 20 and Hertl 28 of their 48 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 →