Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Wyatt Johnston
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Johnston has no games left. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Johnston's 0.0.
Wyatt Johnston has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Corsi 53.1%, Fenwick 51.4%, Hardest shot 92.9.
Johnston's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Goals above expected +4.9, Blocked shots 55.
Head to head on the dot, Bennett leads Johnston 13–10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Wyatt Johnston
2.40
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Wyatt Johnston has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.97 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.38 |
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 Johnston
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Bennett 3G 5A, 18 SOG · Johnston 2G 5A, 15 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 6–1 · neutral 3–8 · Bennett's defensive zone 4–1 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
5:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–5
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 38.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-13 | FLA 4–0 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-01 | FLA 4–3 DAL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-02 | FLA 4–2 DAL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-01 | FLA 6–4 DAL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-12 | FLA 4–3 DAL | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-06 | FLA 5–4 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-08 | FLA 1–5 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-11-17 | FLA 4–6 DAL | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
Faceoffs: Bennett vs Johnston
Model: Sam Bennett wins 48.2% of draws against Wyatt Johnston on average (L shot vs R shot). Opposite-handed, so they are both strong or both weak at every dot and the dot barely matters.
| Bennett at | OZ left | OZ right | NZ left (att.) | NZ right (att.) | Centre | NZ left (def.) | NZ right (def.) | DZ left | DZ right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 49% | 47% | 50% | 48% | 48% | 50% | 48% | 51% | 49% |
| Road | 47% | 45% | 49% | 47% | 48% | 49% | 47% | 50% | 48% |
Head-to-head 2023-24 to 2025-26: Bennett 12–8 (60.0%). Blended with the model: 48.7%. The record is a bit unusual for this matchup (z 1.1); pair-specific edges are about ±2 points, so the model carries most of the weight.
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 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Wyatt Johnston
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett or Wyatt Johnston in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Johnston had 86 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 Wyatt Johnston?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Wyatt Johnston leads in 21 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 Johnston done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 6–2. Bennett had 8 points (3 goals) and Johnston had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Johnston?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 13 and Johnston 10 of their 23 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 →