Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Ovechkin for 1.9 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Alex Ovechkin has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 98.1%, Offensive-zone time 44.6%, Power-play share 91.6%.
Matheson's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 90, Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 150.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Ovechkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.17 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.96 |
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 Matheson
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 16G 18A, 112 SOG · Matheson 2G 14A, 61 SOG
Ovechkin blocked 0 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 10 of Ovechkin's.
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
21:11 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–19
- 55.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–1.0
- 52.7%
- Goals
- 1–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | WSH 2–6 MTL | 2G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-13 | WSH 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-20 | WSH 8–4 MTL | 3G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 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 | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-25 · PO | WSH 3–6 MTL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 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 | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-10 | WSH 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-31 | WSH 6–3 MTL | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-17 | WSH 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-06 | WSH 2–5 MTL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 0S |
Latest 12 of 29 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)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Mike Matheson 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 Mike Matheson's 1.80. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 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 Mike Matheson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex Ovechkin 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 Matheson done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 16–13. Ovechkin had 34 points (16 goals) and Matheson had 16 (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 →