Nicklas Backstrom wasn’t playing bad but the Washington Capitals center wasn’t playing that great. That average play I think showed up in his 5v5 production. In his first 23 games of the season he had just 6 points while at full and even strength. He had 18 points total in those 23 games.
He has since been injured and returned, and returned he has. In the 7 games since coming back he has 9 total points and 5 of those are at 5v5. Five 5v5 points in 7 games compared to 6 5v5 points in the first 23 games.