Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Malkin has 1 left. We project Ovechkin for 1.9 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.7.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Hits 134, Transition attempts /60 1.45, Shots on goal 244.
Malkin's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 109, Plus/minus +13, Luck Meter +21.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.14 |
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 Malkin
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 14G 14A, 124 SOG · Malkin 12G 22A, 96 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
5:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–1
- 88.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.1
- 84.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | WSH 3–0 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-06 | WSH 3–5 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-17 | WSH 2–5 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 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 2S |
| 2024-11-08 | WSH 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-04 | WSH 1–4 PIT | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-07 | WSH 6–0 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-02 | WSH 4–3 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-10-13 | WSH 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 3A 4S |
| 2023-03-25 | WSH 3–4 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-26 | WSH 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 36 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 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.7 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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 Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 19 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 Malkin done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 18–18. Ovechkin had 28 points (14 goals) and Malkin had 34 (12 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 →