Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +1.6% FO% edge overall. Look for Kakko on offensive-zone draws (100% H2H, 7 meetings).
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Kakko 48.4% vs Backlund 49.0% (-1.6%)
H2H factor
Not applied (7 meetings, need 10+)
Offensive zone
Kakko 69.7%
Defensive zone
Backlund 91.6%
Neutral zone
Backlund 72.3%
Result
Kaapo Kakko favored at 69.7%
69.7%
30.3%
Kakko
Backlund
Head-to-Head Record
7
-
0
(7 meetings)
7
0
Kakko
Backlund
Last 7: Kakko 7-0 Backlund
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Kakko
7
0
Kakko
Backlund
7 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Kakko
Backlund
Edge
Even Strength
45.5% (143)
49.7% (13,410)
-4.2%
Power Play
60.0% (30)
51.6% (1,336)
+8.4%
Penalty Kill
0.0% (2)
44.0% (2,446)
-44.0%
On penalty kill, Backlund has a +44.0% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backlund shoots left. Kakko is 47.9% vs left-shot opponents (121).
Kakko shoots left. Backlund is 48.8% vs left-shot opponents (10,953).
Home / Away
Kakko
Backlund
Home
53.5% (71)
49.7% (8,565)
Away
43.3% (104)
48.3% (8,632)
By Period
Kakko
Backlund
P1
46.0%
48.5%
P2
51.0%
50.3%
P3
45.0%
48.4%
OT
100.0%
44.1%
Final 5 min
48.5%
48.3%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Kakko
50.0%▲
47.4%
47.4%
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
49.0%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5, 2026 | 3 | 14:20 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |
| Jan 5, 2026 | 3 | 11:37 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |
| Feb 8, 2025 | OT | 01:41 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |
| Nov 21, 2024 | 3 | 02:28 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |
| Nov 21, 2024 | 3 | 02:19 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |
| Nov 21, 2024 | 3 | 02:11 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |
| Nov 21, 2024 | 3 | 02:05 | Offensive | Kaapo Kakko |