Scouting Report
Claude Giroux holds a +12.9% 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 60.9% vs Backlund 49.7% (+12.9%)
H2H factor
Not applied (9 meetings, need 10+)
Offensive zone
Giroux 90.1%
Defensive zone
Giroux 50.7%
Neutral zone
Giroux 60.9%
Result
Claude Giroux favored at 58.4%
58.4%
41.6%
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
60.3% (395)
50.1% (891)
+10.2%
Power Play
67.3% (107)
53.1% (64)
+14.2%
Penalty Kill
65.4% (153)
47.8% (278)
+17.6%
On penalty kill, Giroux has a +17.6% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backlund shoots left. Giroux is 63.6% vs left-shot opponents (519).
Giroux shoots right. Backlund is 49.2% vs right-shot opponents (362).
Home / Away
Giroux
Backlund
Home
65.9% (337)
48.1% (580)
Away
59.1% (318)
51.1% (653)
By Period
Giroux
Backlund
P1
62.1%
45.1%
P2
64.5%
54.7%
P3
60.9%
49.0%
OT
70.0%
46.2%
Final 5 min
60.3%
47.2%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Giroux
66.0%▲
58.5%
62.6%
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
49.7%
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 |