Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Ovechkin for 1.9 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Hardest shot 97.3, Hits 134, Transition attempts /60 1.45.
Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Blocked shots 50, Faceoffs won 210.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.85
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Ovechkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.78 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.31 |
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 Barzal
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 11G 10A, 85 SOG · Barzal 6G 10A, 57 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
10:58 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–10
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.5
- 39.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-30 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-31 | WSH 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | WSH 4–2 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-29 | WSH 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-20 | WSH 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-11 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-02 | WSH 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-16 | WSH 4–3 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-15 | WSH 4–3 NYI | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-15 | WSH 2–0 NYI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-22 | WSH 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 27 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%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Mathew Barzal 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 Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 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 Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ovechkin and Barzal done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 17–10. Ovechkin had 21 points (11 goals) and Barzal had 16 (6 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 →