Laine is a below average winger in the D zone whereas Matthews is an average or above average center. Therefore, it's not close.
Yet for 2 seasons straight matthews line has been leaking more shots against...
On top of that more shots in relation to the rest of the team too...
Now it should be mentioned the lower icetime obviously skew the results here but we saw a very similar map to last year.
Heres laines btw. Remember his line has been allowing alot less shots against the past 2 seasons.
Note their ice times are almost identical.
So seems that both teams actually lets on less unblocked shots without either one of them....
Which is a similar result to last year...so i dont know what you consider laines linemates to be defensively but logically they should be close to elite to managa to make up for a below average winger while also preventing around 20 shots/60 that the difference is... matthews numbers gets even worse away from hyman.
Anyways my opinion isent that matthews isent better defensively but one would think it would show in shot maps about now (since that removes the goalie from equation).
So may i ask, in your opinion why does matthews/line allow very high shots against numbers? Since center should impact alot more logically alot of blame could be pu on matthews no?
(Actually i dont agree to that since there are 4 others players on ice impacting the game).
Also i dont buy that its due matthews facing tougher competition as laine did that last year...id think it might be system, but anyways whats your opinion?