Mathew Barzal vs Mikael Backlund
All Seasons · Faceoff Head-to-Head
Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +7.0% FO% edge overall. Look for Backlund on defensive-zone draws (87% H2H, 15 meetings). Barzal wins 41.9% vs left-shot opponents — Backlund shoots left.
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Barzal 42.2% vs Backlund 49.0% (-7.0%)
H2H factor
Backlund leads 26-17 in 43 meetings
Offensive zone
Barzal 87.3%
Defensive zone
Barzal 81.7%
Neutral zone
Barzal 88.2%
Result
Mathew Barzal favored at 85.7%
85.7%
14.3%
Barzal
Backlund
Head-to-Head Record
17
-
26
(43 meetings)
17
26
Barzal
Backlund
Last 10: Barzal 5-5 Backlund
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Barzal
7
4
Barzal
Backlund
11 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backlund
2
13
Barzal
Backlund
15 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Backlund
8
9
Barzal
Backlund
17 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Barzal
Backlund
Edge
Even Strength
41.9% (3,565)
49.7% (13,410)
-7.8%
Power Play
43.4% (205)
51.6% (1,336)
-8.2%
Penalty Kill
42.3% (26)
44.0% (2,446)
-1.7%
On power play, Backlund has a +8.2% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backlund shoots left. Barzal is 41.9% vs left-shot opponents (2,699).
Barzal shoots right. Backlund is 49.5% vs right-shot opponents (6,244).
Home / Away
Barzal
Backlund
Home
43.1% (1,895)
49.7% (8,565)
Away
40.9% (1,901)
48.3% (8,632)
By Period
Barzal
Backlund
P1
40.7%
48.5%
P2
44.4%
50.3%
P3
41.0%
48.4%
OT
27.6%
44.1%
Final 5 min
39.9%
48.3%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Barzal
36.0%▼
44.0%
42.0%
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
49.0%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17, 2026 | 3 | 18:11 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 3 | 16:20 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 3 | 13:13 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 3 | 06:30 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 3 | 00:00 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 2 | 18:38 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 2 | 18:26 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 2 | 12:21 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 2 | 04:11 | Offensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 2 | 00:00 | Neutral | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 1 | 16:59 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 1 | 07:50 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 1 | 00:00 | Neutral | Mathew Barzal |
| Feb 10, 2024 | 3 | 05:40 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Feb 10, 2024 | 1 | 11:27 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Nov 7, 2022 | 3 | 09:31 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Nov 7, 2022 | 2 | 10:58 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Nov 7, 2022 | 2 | 00:27 | Defensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Nov 7, 2022 | 2 | 00:19 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Feb 12, 2022 | 3 | 08:00 | Neutral | Mathew Barzal |