Scouting Report
Claude Giroux holds a +13.1% FO% edge overall. Look for Backlund on defensive-zone draws (60% H2H, 5 meetings). Giroux wins 63.6% vs left-shot opponents — Backlund shoots left.
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Giroux 61.3% vs Backlund 49.8% (+13.1%)
H2H factor
Not applied (9 meetings, need 10+)
Offensive zone
Giroux 89.7%
Defensive zone
Backlund 51.0%
Neutral zone
Giroux 63.3%
Result
Claude Giroux favored at 58.3%
58.3%
41.7%
Giroux
Backlund
Head-to-Head Record
5
-
4
(9 meetings)
5
4
Giroux
Backlund
Last 9: Giroux 5-4 Backlund
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Giroux
1
0
Giroux
Backlund
1 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backlund
2
3
Giroux
Backlund
5 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Giroux
2
1
Giroux
Backlund
3 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Giroux
Backlund
Edge
Even Strength
61.0% (420)
50.5% (944)
+10.5%
Power Play
66.4% (113)
51.5% (66)
+14.9%
Penalty Kill
65.6% (163)
47.1% (297)
+18.5%
On penalty kill, Giroux has a +18.5% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backlund shoots left. Giroux is 63.6% vs left-shot opponents (550).
Giroux shoots right. Backlund is 49.6% vs right-shot opponents (369).
Home / Away
Giroux
Backlund
Home
66.6% (350)
48.1% (636)
Away
59.2% (346)
51.4% (671)
By Period
Giroux
Backlund
P1
62.1%
45.4%
P2
64.7%
54.1%
P3
61.6%
49.2%
OT
69.2%
55.6%
Final 5 min
61.1%
48.5%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Giroux
70.0%▲
57.0%
62.9%
Backlund
50.0%▬
50.0%
49.8%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 5, 2026 | 3 | 14:11 | Neutral | Claude Giroux |
| Mar 5, 2026 | 3 | 10:11 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Mar 5, 2026 | 3 | 06:47 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Mar 5, 2026 | 2 | 14:26 | Offensive | Claude Giroux |
| Oct 30, 2025 | OT | 02:57 | Defensive | Claude Giroux |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 3 | 11:51 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 2 | 19:41 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 1 | 14:04 | Defensive | Claude Giroux |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 1 | 06:09 | Neutral | Claude Giroux |