Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +5.7% FO% edge overall. Look for Malkin on neutral-zone draws (67% H2H, 6 meetings). Malkin wins 46.8% vs left-shot opponents — Backlund shoots left.
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Malkin 43.5% vs Backlund 48.5% (-5.7%)
H2H factor
Not applied (7 meetings, need 10+)
Offensive zone
Backlund 60.8%
Defensive zone
Backlund 89.6%
Neutral zone
Backlund 78.5%
Result
Mikael Backlund favored at 80.1%
19.9%
80.1%
Malkin
Backlund
Head-to-Head Record
5
-
2
(7 meetings)
5
2
Malkin
Backlund
Last 7: Malkin 5-2 Backlund
Zone Breakdown
Defensive Zone
Edge: Malkin
1
0
Malkin
Backlund
1 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Malkin
4
2
Malkin
Backlund
6 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Malkin
Backlund
Edge
Even Strength
43.1% (733)
50.1% (711)
-7.0%
Power Play
31.3% (16)
43.2% (81)
-11.9%
Penalty Kill
16.7% (6)
38.6% (83)
-21.9%
On penalty kill, Backlund has a +21.9% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Backlund shoots left. Malkin is 46.8% vs left-shot opponents (489).
Malkin shoots left. Backlund is 50.1% vs left-shot opponents (515).
Home / Away
Malkin
Backlund
Home
42.6% (338)
51.0% (396)
Away
42.7% (417)
46.1% (479)
By Period
Malkin
Backlund
P1
40.9%
43.9%
P2
45.3%
51.5%
P3
42.0%
51.0%
OT
40.0%
12.5%
Final 5 min
46.1%
48.5%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Malkin
36.0%▼
46.0%
42.6%
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
48.3%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2015 | 3 | 05:36 | Defensive | Evgeni Malkin |
| Feb 6, 2015 | 2 | 18:34 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Feb 6, 2015 | 2 | 14:52 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Feb 6, 2015 | 2 | 11:58 | Neutral | Evgeni Malkin |
| Feb 6, 2015 | 2 | 02:14 | Neutral | Evgeni Malkin |
| Feb 6, 2015 | 1 | 15:34 | Neutral | Evgeni Malkin |
| Feb 6, 2015 | 1 | 00:00 | Neutral | Evgeni Malkin |