Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Ovechkin vs Rickard Rakell
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84.
Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.
This week Ovechkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Ovechkin's 1.9.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Ovechkin's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.45, Penalty minutes 26, Hardest shot 97.3.
Rakell's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, 20+ mph bursts 99, Blocked shots 43.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Ovechkin
1.84
fantasy points per game
Rickard Rakell
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ovechkin | Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.73 | 0.75 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.34 |
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 Rakell
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 6A, 88 SOG · Rakell 3G 11A, 67 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ovechkin's side)
10:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ovechkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–5
- 76.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 52.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ovechkin | Rakell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | WSH 3–0 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-11 | WSH 6–3 PIT | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | WSH 2–5 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-02-22 | WSH 8–3 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | WSH 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-08 | WSH 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-04 | WSH 1–4 PIT | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-07 | WSH 6–0 PIT | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-02 | WSH 4–3 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-10-13 | WSH 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-25 | WSH 3–4 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-26 | WSH 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
Rickard Rakell
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex Ovechkin's 1.84. Ovechkin had 64 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Rickard Rakell?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Ovechkin and Rakell done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Ovechkin's team went 12–9. Ovechkin had 17 points (11 goals) and Rakell had 14 (3 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 →