Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Erik Karlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Karlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Ovechkin for 1.9 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Hits 134, Offensive-zone start % 98.1%, Hardest shot 97.3.
Karlsson's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 153, Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 23.7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.43 |
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 Karlsson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ovechkin 9G 6A, 56 SOG · Karlsson 3G 12A, 42 SOG
Ovechkin blocked 1 of Karlsson's shots; Karlsson blocked 2 of Ovechkin's.
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
7:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–1
- 83.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 79.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | WSH 3–0 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-06 | WSH 3–5 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-17 | WSH 2–5 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-22 | WSH 8–3 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-18 | WSH 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-08 | WSH 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-04-04 | WSH 1–4 PIT | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-07 | WSH 6–0 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-02 | WSH 4–3 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-13 | WSH 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-04 | WSH 8–3 SJS | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-02-12 | WSH 1–4 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
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)
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Erik Karlsson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 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 Erik Karlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson 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 Karlsson done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 11–6. Ovechkin had 15 points (9 goals) and Karlsson had 15 (3 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 →