Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Ovechkin projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left; Zacha has 1 left. We project Ovechkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Zacha'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%, Transition attempts /60 1.45, Forecheck xG /60 0.31.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.4, Faceoffs won 524, Luck Meter +68.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex Ovechkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.24 |
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 Zacha
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 17G 14A, 103 SOG · Zacha 2G 11A, 47 SOG
Ovechkin blocked 0 of Zacha's shots; Zacha blocked 2 of Ovechkin's.
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
6:45 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–4
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 62.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | WSH 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-07 | WSH 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-08 | WSH 1–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-01 | WSH 4–3 BOS | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | WSH 3–1 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-15 | WSH 2–0 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-30 | WSH 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-02-10 | WSH 3–0 BOS | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-11 | WSH 2–1 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-12 | WSH 2–5 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-02 | WSH 3–4 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-21 | WSH 4–1 NJD | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 30 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)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.6 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.3 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Pavel Zacha 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 Zacha's 1.70. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Zacha had 65 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 Pavel Zacha?
- 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 Zacha done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 20–10. Ovechkin had 31 points (17 goals) and Zacha had 13 (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 →