Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Lawson Crouse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Crouse has 2 left with 2 tough matchups. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Ovechkin's 1.9.
Lawson Crouse has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Power-play share 91.6%, Power-play time per game 4:27.
Crouse's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.5, 20+ mph bursts 155, Blocked shots 52.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Ovechkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.28 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.30 |
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 Crouse
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ovechkin 8G 6A, 57 SOG · Crouse 2G 1A, 21 SOG
Ovechkin blocked 0 of Crouse's shots; Crouse blocked 1 of Ovechkin's.
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
7:22 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–9
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 25.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Crouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | WSH 7–4 UTA | 3G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-03 | WSH 2–3 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-09 | WSH 4–5 UTA | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-18 | WSH 6–2 UTA | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-03 | WSH 2–5 ARI | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-04 | WSH 0–6 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-05 | WSH 2–3 ARI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-10-29 | WSH 2–0 ARI | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-15 | WSH 1–3 ARI | 0G 0A 8S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-11-11 | WSH 3–4 ARI | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-12-06 | WSH 4–2 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
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)
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Lawson Crouse 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 Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Crouse had 44 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 Lawson Crouse?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lawson Crouse leads in 20 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 Crouse done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 4–7. Ovechkin had 14 points (8 goals) and Crouse had 3 (2 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 →