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Who to start · 2025-26

Alex Ovechkin vs Bowen Byram

Alex OvechkinAlex OvechkinCapitals · Left wingvsBowen ByramBowen ByramBlackhawks · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.

Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Byram had 42 in 82 games.

This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Byram has 1 left. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Ovechkin's 1.9.

Alex Ovechkin has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Ovechkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 98.1%, Hardest shot 97.3, Forecheck xG /60 0.31.

Byram's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 107, Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 22.9.

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

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alex Ovechkin

1.84

fantasy points per game

Bowen Byram

1.37

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Alex Ovechkin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromOvechkinByram
Goals (+2)0.730.24
Assists (+1)0.430.33
Power-play points (+0.5)0.110.04
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.290.12
Hits (+0.1)0.160.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.120.59

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: Ovechkin vs Byram

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.

OvechkinByram
4Team record in 10 meetings6
10Points in those games4

Ovechkin 4G 6A, 29 SOG · Byram 0G 4A, 7 SOG

2Hits on each other0

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

8:59 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side

Shot attempts
11–8
57.9%
Expected goals
0.5–0.3
63.8%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Alex Ovechkin and Bowen Byram
DateScoreOvechkinByram
2026-04-04WSH 6–2 BUF0G 2A 4S0G 0A 0S
2026-03-12WSH 2–1 BUF0G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2025-11-01WSH 3–4 BUF0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-03-30WSH 5–8 BUF1G 2A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-06WSH 3–4 BUF0G 0A 5S0G 0A 1S
2024-04-02WSH 2–6 BUF0G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S
2024-02-13WSH 3–6 COL1G 0A 3S0G 2A 2S
2024-01-24WSH 2–6 COL0G 1A 0S0G 0A 1S
2022-04-18WSH 3–2 COL1G 0A 4S0G 1A 0S
2021-10-19WSH 6–3 COL1G 0A 2S0G 1A 0S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

OvechkinByram

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.

Alex Ovechkin

2games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.9 pts
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)

Bowen Byram

3games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 pts
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Bowen Byram in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Byram had 42 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, Alex Ovechkin or Bowen Byram?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alex Ovechkin 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 Ovechkin and Byram done against each other?
In 10 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 4–6. Ovechkin had 10 points (4 goals) and Byram had 4 (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 →