Mikael Backlund vs Nick Schmaltz
All Seasons · Faceoff Head-to-Head
Scouting Report
Mikael Backlund holds a +6.7% FO% edge overall. Look for Backlund on defensive-zone draws (100% H2H, 26 meetings).
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Backlund 49.0% vs Schmaltz 42.5% (+6.7%)
H2H factor
Backlund leads 37-26 in 63 meetings
Offensive zone
Backlund 60.9%
Defensive zone
Backlund 94.7%
Neutral zone
Backlund 88.5%
Result
Mikael Backlund favored at 81.9%
81.9%
18.1%
Backlund
Schmaltz
Head-to-Head Record
37
-
26
(63 meetings)
37
26
Backlund
Schmaltz
Last 10: Backlund 5-5 Schmaltz
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Edge: Schmaltz
3
18
Backlund
Schmaltz
21 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Backlund
26
0
Backlund
Schmaltz
26 total
Neutral Zone
Even
8
8
Backlund
Schmaltz
16 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Backlund
Schmaltz
Edge
Even Strength
49.7% (13,410)
41.2% (3,399)
+8.5%
Power Play
51.6% (1,336)
47.1% (649)
+4.5%
Penalty Kill
44.0% (2,446)
47.8% (134)
-3.8%
On even strength, Backlund has a +8.5% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Schmaltz shoots right. Backlund is 49.5% vs right-shot opponents (6,244).
Backlund shoots left. Schmaltz is 41.2% vs left-shot opponents (3,015).
Home / Away
Backlund
Schmaltz
Home
49.7% (8,565)
42.7% (2,089)
Away
48.3% (8,632)
41.9% (2,093)
By Period
Backlund
Schmaltz
P1
48.5%
41.1%
P2
50.3%
42.9%
P3
48.4%
43.0%
OT
44.1%
42.4%
Final 5 min
48.3%
42.2%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Backlund
52.0%▲
48.0%
49.0%
Schmaltz
46.0%▬
45.0%
42.3%
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 |
| Jan 2, 2025 | 2 | 14:35 | Offensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Jan 2, 2025 | 1 | 02:25 | Neutral | Nick Schmaltz |
| Oct 30, 2024 | 2 | 14:51 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Oct 30, 2024 | 1 | 12:18 | Offensive | Nick Schmaltz |
| Apr 14, 2024 | 2 | 10:23 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |
| Apr 14, 2024 | 2 | 06:48 | Defensive | Mikael Backlund |