Scouting Report
Jiri Kulich holds a +1.6% FO% edge overall. Look for Kulich on defensive-zone draws (75% H2H, 8 meetings). Kulich wins 45.8% vs left-shot opponents — Cates shoots left.
Prediction Breakdown
Model
XGBoost ML Model
Overall FO% (Bayesian)
Kulich 45.3% vs Cates 43.2% (+1.6%)
H2H factor
Kulich leads 11-8 in 19 meetings
Offensive zone
Kulich 74.3%
Defensive zone
Cates 52.6%
Neutral zone
Kulich 53.1%
Result
Jiri Kulich favored at 53.0%
53.0%
47.0%
Kulich
Cates
Head-to-Head Record
11
-
8
(19 meetings)
11
8
Kulich
Cates
Last 8: Kulich 5-3 Cates
Zone Breakdown
Offensive Zone
Even
1
1
Kulich
Cates
2 total
Defensive Zone
Edge: Kulich
6
2
Kulich
Cates
8 total
Neutral Zone
Edge: Cates
4
5
Kulich
Cates
9 total
Situation Matchup
Situation
Kulich
Cates
Edge
Even Strength
44.8% (661)
44.1% (2,786)
+0.7%
Power Play
46.8% (47)
42.9% (254)
+3.9%
Penalty Kill
28.6% (14)
34.9% (373)
-6.3%
On penalty kill, Cates has a +6.3% edge.
Handedness & Splits
Handedness
Cates shoots left. Kulich is 45.8% vs left-shot opponents (467).
Kulich shoots left. Cates is 41.9% vs left-shot opponents (2,307).
Home / Away
Kulich
Cates
Home
46.0% (365)
43.9% (1,708)
Away
43.1% (357)
42.2% (1,705)
By Period
Kulich
Cates
P1
47.0%
44.5%
P2
46.3%
43.7%
P3
40.8%
41.2%
OT
0.0%
29.4%
Final 5 min
42.5%
41.4%
Recent Form
Player
Last 50
Last 200
Career
Kulich
46.0%▲
43.5%
44.6%
Cates
50.0%▲
45.5%
43.0%
Recent Faceoffs
| Date | Period | Time | Zone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2025 | 3 | 13:44 | Defensive | Jiri Kulich |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 3 | 09:30 | Offensive | Noah Cates |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 3 | 07:32 | Neutral | Noah Cates |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 3 | 07:25 | Defensive | Jiri Kulich |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 3 | 00:00 | Neutral | Jiri Kulich |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 2 | 00:00 | Neutral | Noah Cates |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 1 | 03:54 | Neutral | Jiri Kulich |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 1 | 00:00 | Neutral | Jiri Kulich |