Mathew Barzal vs Nicklas Backstrom
All Seasons · Faceoff Head-to-Head
Scouting Report
Nicklas Backstrom holds a +8.5% FO% edge overall. Look for Backstrom on neutral-zone draws (70% H2H, 20 meetings). Barzal wins 41.9% vs left-shot opponents — Backstrom shoots left.
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Barzal 42.2% vs Backstrom 50.5% (-8.5%)
H2H factor
Backstrom leads 29-19 in 48 meetings
Offensive zone
Barzal 84.4%
Defensive zone
Barzal 84.4%
Neutral zone
Barzal 92.2%
Result
Mathew Barzal favored at 87.7%
87.7%
12.3%
Barzal
Backstrom
Head-to-Head Record
19
-
29
(48 meetings)
19
29
Barzal
Backstrom
Last 10: Barzal 2-8 Backstrom
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Barzal
3
2
Barzal
Backstrom
5 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backstrom
10
13
Barzal
Backstrom
23 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Backstrom
6
14
Barzal
Backstrom
20 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Barzal
Backstrom
Edge
Even Strength
41.9% (3,558)
50.4% (11,581)
-8.5%
Power Play
43.4% (205)
52.3% (1,895)
-8.9%
Penalty Kill
42.3% (26)
47.0% (889)
-4.7%
On power play, Backstrom has a +8.9% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backstrom shoots left. Barzal is 41.9% vs left-shot opponents (2,695).
Barzal shoots right. Backstrom is 48.3% vs right-shot opponents (5,430).
Home / Away
Barzal
Backstrom
Home
43.1% (1,893)
52.6% (7,223)
Away
40.9% (1,896)
48.4% (7,173)
By Period
Barzal
Backstrom
P1
40.6%
50.1%
P2
44.4%
49.7%
P3
41.0%
51.6%
OT
27.6%
52.9%
Final 5 min
39.9%
50.5%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Barzal
40.0%▼
44.5%
42.0%
Backstrom
50.0%▲
48.5%
50.5%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2023 | 2 | 08:42 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Apr 28, 2022 | 1 | 12:01 | Neutral | Mathew Barzal |
| Apr 26, 2022 | 3 | 17:35 | Neutral | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Apr 26, 2022 | 2 | 15:08 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Apr 26, 2022 | 1 | 01:49 | Neutral | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Mar 15, 2022 | 3 | 04:22 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Mar 15, 2022 | 2 | 13:21 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Apr 6, 2021 | 3 | 07:48 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Apr 6, 2021 | 3 | 01:27 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Apr 6, 2021 | 1 | 09:25 | Defensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Apr 6, 2021 | 1 | 09:10 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Apr 6, 2021 | 1 | 05:08 | Neutral | Mathew Barzal |
| Apr 1, 2021 | 2 | 12:38 | Defensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Apr 1, 2021 | 1 | 17:54 | Neutral | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Mar 16, 2021 | 1 | 07:49 | Defensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 28, 2021 | 2 | 19:30 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Feb 10, 2020 | 3 | 14:55 | Defensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Feb 10, 2020 | 1 | 01:16 | Offensive | Mathew Barzal |
| Jan 18, 2020 | 3 | 17:51 | Defensive | Nicklas Backstrom |
| Oct 4, 2019 | 3 | 13:54 | Defensive | Mathew Barzal |