Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:13, Faceoffs won 517, Power-play share 62.8%.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Ascension score 78, Plus/minus +16, Top skating speed 23.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vasily Podkolzin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.30 |
| 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 Podkolzin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Bennett 5G 5A, 31 SOG · Podkolzin 3G 3A, 20 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Bennett's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
13:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–12
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 33.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | FLA 4–0 EDM | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-22 | FLA 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-17 · PO | FLA 5–1 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-06-14 · PO | FLA 5–2 EDM | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-06-12 · PO | FLA 4–5 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-06-09 · PO | FLA 6–1 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-06-06 · PO | FLA 5–4 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-04 · PO | FLA 3–4 EDM | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | FLA 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-16 | FLA 6–5 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-11 | FLA 5–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett or Vasily Podkolzin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Podkolzin had 37 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 Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Bennett and Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 8–3. Bennett had 10 points (5 goals) and Podkolzin had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Podkolzin?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 0 and Podkolzin 1 of their 1 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 →