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Who to start · 2025-26

Sam Bennett vs Vladislav Gavrikov

Sam BennettSam BennettPanthers · CentrevsVladislav GavrikovVladislav GavrikovRangers · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51.

Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Gavrikov had 35 in 82 games.

This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Gavrikov has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Gavrikov's 1.0.

Sam Bennett has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Bennett's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Offensive-zone time 45.6%, Hits 115.

Gavrikov's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.0, Goals above expected +5.0, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.49.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Sam Bennett

1.74

fantasy points per game

Vladislav Gavrikov

1.51

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBennettGavrikov
Goals (+2)0.600.28
Assists (+1)0.430.21
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.03
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.13
Hits (+0.1)0.190.07
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.78

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 Gavrikov

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BennettGavrikov
9Team record in 14 meetings5
11Points in those games1

Bennett 8G 3A, 55 SOG · Gavrikov 0G 1A, 13 SOG

1Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other4

Bennett blocked 0 of Gavrikov's shots; Gavrikov blocked 4 of Bennett's.

On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)

5:25 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side

Shot attempts
8–9
47.1%
Expected goals
0.1–0.4
20.0%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Sam Bennett and Vladislav Gavrikov
DateScoreBennettGavrikov
2026-01-02FLA 1–5 NYR0G 1A 4S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-29FLA 3–0 LAK1G 0A 8S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-22FLA 1–2 LAK0G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2024-01-11FLA 3–2 LAK1G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2023-11-16FLA 1–2 LAK0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2022-12-13FLA 4–0 CBJ0G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S
2022-11-20FLA 3–5 CBJ0G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2022-02-24FLA 3–6 CBJ1G 0A 8S0G 1A 0S
2022-01-31FLA 8–4 CBJ0G 1A 4S0G 0A 1S
2022-01-15FLA 9–2 CBJ1G 1A 5S0G 0A 0S
2021-04-20FLA 5–1 CBJ2G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2021-04-19FLA 4–2 CBJ1G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S

Latest 12 of 14 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.

BennettGavrikov

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ CAR
    Opp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

Vladislav Gavrikov

4games (1 left)

1.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.0 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Sam Bennett or Vladislav Gavrikov in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladislav Gavrikov's 1.51. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Gavrikov had 35 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 Vladislav Gavrikov?
On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 21 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 Gavrikov done against each other?
In 14 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 9–5. Bennett had 11 points (8 goals) and Gavrikov had 1 (0 goals).

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 →