Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Ovechkin for 1.9 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Alex Ovechkin 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, Offensive-zone start % 98.1%.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Blocked shots 40, Faceoffs won 98, Goals above expected −0.4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Ovechkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.23 |
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 Buchnevich
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 13G 8A, 114 SOG · Buchnevich 9G 13A, 55 SOG
Ovechkin blocked 0 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 1 of Ovechkin's.
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
3:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–6
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 15.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | WSH 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-05 | WSH 6–1 STL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | WSH 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-11-09 | WSH 8–1 STL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-20 | WSH 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-18 | WSH 5–2 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-17 | WSH 2–5 STL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-11-17 | WSH 4–5 STL | 1G 2A 9S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-22 | WSH 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-07 | WSH 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2021-05-03 | WSH 6–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-03-30 | WSH 2–5 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
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%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Pavel Buchnevich 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 Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 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 Pavel Buchnevich?
- 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 Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 13–14. Ovechkin had 21 points (13 goals) and Buchnevich had 22 (9 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 →