Scouting Report
Sidney Crosby holds a +5.7% FO% edge overall. Look for Crosby on offensive-zone draws (92% H2H, 12 meetings).
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Backlund 49.8% vs Crosby 55.1% (-5.7%)
H2H factor
Crosby leads 20-12 in 32 meetings
Offensive zone
Crosby 61.1%
Defensive zone
Backlund 92.7%
Neutral zone
Backlund 67.6%
Result
Mikael Backlund favored at 63.9%
63.9%
36.1%
Backlund
Crosby
Head-to-Head Record
12
-
20
(32 meetings)
12
20
Backlund
Crosby
Last 10: Backlund 5-5 Crosby
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Crosby
1
11
Backlund
Crosby
12 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backlund
7
2
Backlund
Crosby
9 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Crosby
4
7
Backlund
Crosby
11 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Backlund
Crosby
Edge
Even Strength
50.5% (944)
53.3% (1,025)
-2.8%
Power Play
51.5% (66)
64.7% (249)
-13.2%
Penalty Kill
47.1% (297)
60.0% (15)
-12.9%
On power play, Crosby has a +13.2% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Crosby shoots left. Backlund is 49.9% vs left-shot opponents (938).
Backlund shoots left. Crosby is 54.8% vs left-shot opponents (914).
Home / Away
Backlund
Crosby
Home
48.1% (636)
56.9% (675)
Away
51.4% (671)
54.1% (614)
By Period
Backlund
Crosby
P1
45.4%
55.1%
P2
54.1%
53.1%
P3
49.2%
58.5%
OT
55.6%
54.2%
Final 5 min
48.5%
54.8%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Backlund
50.0%▬
50.0%
49.8%
Crosby
46.0%▼
54.0%
55.5%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 17:48 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 14:55 | Neutral | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 10:47 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 10:33 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 04:57 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 00:13 | Neutral | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 3 | 00:00 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 2 | 05:53 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 2 | 00:00 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 18:32 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 18:12 | Offensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 14:59 | Neutral | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 08:47 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 08:44 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 08:40 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 02:29 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 1 | 00:00 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 10, 2026 | 3 | 18:59 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 10, 2026 | 3 | 18:25 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |
| Jan 10, 2026 | 3 | 18:14 | Offensive | Sidney Crosby |