Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +3.6% FO% edge overall. Look for Backlund on defensive-zone draws (100% H2H, 8 meetings).
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Backlund 49.7% vs Schmaltz 46.6% (+3.6%)
H2H factor
Backlund leads 9-5 in 14 meetings
Offensive zone
Schmaltz 73.2%
Defensive zone
Backlund 94.0%
Neutral zone
Backlund 69.7%
Result
Mikael Backlund favored at 71.3%
71.3%
28.7%
Backlund
Schmaltz
Head-to-Head Record
9
-
5
(14 meetings)
9
5
Backlund
Schmaltz
Last 10: Backlund 5-5 Schmaltz
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Schmaltz
0
4
Backlund
Schmaltz
4 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backlund
8
0
Backlund
Schmaltz
8 total
Neutral Zone
Even
1
1
Backlund
Schmaltz
2 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Backlund
Schmaltz
Edge
Even Strength
50.1% (891)
45.9% (665)
+4.2%
Power Play
53.1% (64)
46.8% (111)
+6.3%
Penalty Kill
47.8% (278)
50.0% (24)
-2.2%
On power play, Backlund has a +6.3% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Schmaltz shoots right. Backlund is 49.2% vs right-shot opponents (362).
Backlund shoots left. Schmaltz is 41.7% vs left-shot opponents (559).
Home / Away
Backlund
Schmaltz
Home
48.1% (580)
44.7% (409)
Away
51.1% (653)
47.6% (391)
By Period
Backlund
Schmaltz
P1
45.1%
40.3%
P2
54.7%
47.6%
P3
49.0%
51.0%
OT
46.2%
0.0%
Final 5 min
47.2%
40.2%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
49.7%
Schmaltz
46.0%▬
45.0%
46.1%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 17:18 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 15:00 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 14:48 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 04:18 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3 | 02:03 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2 | 12:59 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2 | 07:04 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 2 | 00:09 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 1 | 16:30 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 1 | 00:16 | Neutral | Nick Schmaltz |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 2 | 08:10 | Neutral | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 2 | 03:06 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 1 | 13:44 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 1 | 13:16 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |