OvermanKingGainer
#BennettFreed #CurseofTheSpulll #FreeOliver
The fact that Engelland + Kulak is at 59.0% as a pair seems to speak to a) low sample size and b) completely different usage. That, of course, makes a lot of sense. Engelland/Kulak is the sort of pairing that would only be used against the weakest of opposition, as Kulak was never really trusted by Hartley. When paired with veterans, however, Engelland would've been more trusted.
A sample size of about 57 minutes is big enough to indicate a clear trend, even if you need a bigger sample to really have a strong sense of the absolutes.
As for the usage, The pair wasn't all that sheltered. they were a bottom pair used as a bottom pair with a 33/33/33℅ split in their faceoff starts. While Hartley obviously controlled matchups to a small degree to favour the pair - that is not a bad thing. Better to have a bottom pair that is helping you than to have a bottom pair that is killing you. There is zero value in throwing Engelland out there to get shelled as is the case when he is paired with Diaz, Smid, Wideman, Brodie, Giordano, Russell, or Jokipakka. Period. That is how you get yourself fired. This pair passed the eye test in a way no partner for Engelland has ever passed the eye test, which is the only reason I brought up the stats. It was the only time I have ever thought Engelland was not being overwhelmed by the hard forechecking nature NHL play. Kulak handled the breakout, the transition defense, and kept the puck onside, while Engelland cleared the front of the net and let Kulak handle the hockey part of hockey.
As for the peanut gallery with their typical weak remarks about layman's stats recording shot attempts, they can believe and preach whatever ancient dogma they want to preach. The value of their dated opinions ain't exactly high and no one with common sense is listening. However it's pretty disappointing they are allowed to sit on that soap box beating that dead horse trying to indoctrinate everyone with their precept instead of acting like grownups and simply accepting viewpoints outside of their little bubble.
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