Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +1.7% FO% edge overall. Look for Malkin on neutral-zone draws (67% H2H, 3 meetings).
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Malkin 48.7% vs Backlund 50.3% (-1.7%)
H2H factor
Not applied (5 meetings, need 10+)
Offensive zone
Malkin 77.5%
Defensive zone
Backlund 85.3%
Neutral zone
Backlund 60.9%
Result
Mikael Backlund favored at 70.7%
29.3%
70.7%
Malkin
Backlund
Head-to-Head Record
3
-
2
(5 meetings)
3
2
Malkin
Backlund
Last 5: Malkin 3-2 Backlund
Zone Breakdown
Defensive Zone
Even
1
1
Malkin
Backlund
2 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Malkin
2
1
Malkin
Backlund
3 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Malkin
Backlund
Edge
Even Strength
47.9% (776)
51.0% (1,205)
-3.1%
Power Play
66.7% (24)
59.3% (108)
+7.4%
Penalty Kill
100.0% (1)
42.3% (234)
+57.7%
On penalty kill, Malkin has a +57.7% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backlund shoots left. Malkin is 48.4% vs left-shot opponents (541).
Malkin shoots left. Backlund is 48.4% vs left-shot opponents (1,012).
Home / Away
Malkin
Backlund
Home
49.6% (405)
51.2% (782)
Away
47.5% (396)
49.4% (765)
By Period
Malkin
Backlund
P1
49.6%
51.5%
P2
47.2%
49.8%
P3
48.5%
49.9%
OT
100.0%
37.5%
Final 5 min
48.3%
50.5%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Malkin
36.0%▼
46.0%
48.6%
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
50.3%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2024 | 2 | 19:57 | Defensive | Evgeni Malkin |
| Oct 14, 2023 | 3 | 00:29 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 14, 2023 | 3 | 00:18 | Neutral | Evgeni Malkin |
| Oct 14, 2023 | 2 | 18:29 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 14, 2023 | 2 | 18:22 | Neutral | Evgeni Malkin |