Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Cole Caufield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Caufield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Ovechkin for 1.9 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Hits 134, Hardest shot 97.3, Penalty minutes 26.
Caufield's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.1, Luck Meter +66, Plus/minus +29.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 1.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.32 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
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 Caufield
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.
Ovechkin 15G 10A, 67 SOG · Caufield 11G 6A, 78 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
5:41 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–6
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 55.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Caufield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | WSH 2–6 MTL | 2G 0A 6S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-13 | WSH 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-20 | WSH 8–4 MTL | 3G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2025-04-30 · PO | WSH 4–1 MTL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-27 · PO | WSH 5–2 MTL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-25 · PO | WSH 3–6 MTL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 11S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | WSH 3–1 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | WSH 3–2 MTL | 2G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-01-10 | WSH 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2024-10-31 | WSH 6–3 MTL | 1G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-17 | WSH 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-02-06 | WSH 2–5 MTL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
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.
Alex Ovechkin
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Cole Caufield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 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 Cole Caufield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield leads in 25 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 Caufield done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 12–5. Ovechkin had 25 points (15 goals) and Caufield had 17 (11 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 →