Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +3.6% FO% edge overall. Look for Backlund on defensive-zone draws (100% H2H, 8 meetings).
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Backlund 49.8% vs Schmaltz 46.6% (+3.6%)
H2H factor
Backlund leads 9-5 in 14 meetings
Offensive zone
Schmaltz 73.6%
Defensive zone
Backlund 93.7%
Neutral zone
Backlund 68.3%
Result
Mikael Backlund favored at 70.8%
70.8%
29.2%
Backlund
Schmaltz
Head-to-Head Record
9
-
5
(14 meetings)
9
5
Backlund
Schmaltz
Last 10: Backlund 5-5 Schmaltz
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Schmaltz
0
4
Backlund
Schmaltz
4 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backlund
8
0
Backlund
Schmaltz
8 total
Neutral Zone
Even
1
1
Backlund
Schmaltz
2 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Backlund
Schmaltz
Edge
Even Strength
50.5% (944)
45.9% (697)
+4.6%
Power Play
51.5% (66)
47.9% (117)
+3.6%
Penalty Kill
47.1% (297)
48.0% (25)
-0.9%
On even strength, Backlund has a +4.6% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Schmaltz shoots right. Backlund is 49.6% vs right-shot opponents (369).
Backlund shoots left. Schmaltz is 41.8% vs left-shot opponents (593).
Home / Away
Backlund
Schmaltz
Home
48.1% (636)
44.9% (434)
Away
51.4% (671)
47.7% (405)
By Period
Backlund
Schmaltz
P1
45.4%
41.5%
P2
54.1%
46.7%
P3
49.2%
51.1%
OT
55.6%
0.0%
Final 5 min
48.5%
40.5%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Backlund
50.0%▬
50.0%
49.8%
Schmaltz
42.0%▼
46.0%
46.2%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 17:18 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 15:00 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 14:48 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 04:18 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 02:03 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2 | 12:59 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2 | 07:04 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2 | 00:09 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 1 | 16:30 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 1 | 00:16 | Neutral | Nick Schmaltz |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 2 | 08:10 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 2 | 03:06 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 1 | 13:44 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 1 | 13:16 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |