The Underappreciated Art of the Faceoff

Sharks center Scott Nichol doesn't go home in the offseason and brag about his prowess in the faceoff circle ... but he could. He's leading the league in faceoff percentage for the second time in three seasons, with a slick 61 percent won.

"You don't get on ESPN, that's for sure," Nichol told FanHouse with a laugh.

"It's not something people talk about around the water cooler," San Jose center and faceoff-standout Manny Malhotra said. "But it is an aspect of the game that, if you're good at it, can help you win games."

Taking faceoffs isn't glamorous, true enough. It isn't highlight-reel material. Great faceoff men don't get big endorsement deals or win Hart Trophies unless they're also top scorers. Goal scorers are rock stars, faceoff men are roadies.

But in the world of puck-possession hockey, faceoffs are a major consideration, and there's often a correlation between faceoff percentage and the standings. It's no coincidence that the Sharks are the NHL's top faceoff team this season and the Oilers are the worst, at 47.2 percent, more than eight percentage points behind San Jose's 55.6 percent. (Points leader Washington is fifth in the category, Chicago is third.)

Faceoff Success
	FO%	Top Player* (%)
1. San Jose	55.6	Joe Pavelski (59.6)
2. Minnesota	53.3	Mikko Koivu (57.8)
3. Chicago	52.3	Jonathan Toews (56.7)
4. Boston	52.0	Patrice Bergeron (57.4)
5. Washington	51.9	David Steckel (60.2)
* minimum 500 attempts

Detroit and San Jose are usually among the league's best, and they've won the past two President's Trophies, playing a similar puck-possession style. Faceoffs are a pivotal area for them. "Obviously, starting with the puck instead of chasing it helps your chances," Malhotra said.

Of course, the difference between opponents on a given night can be minimal; the breakdown in the circle usually winds up being pretty even, especially when top teams are on the ice. It's the one faceoff late in a tight game that really matters, particularly in odd-man situations.

That's when the best faceoff men shine, and that's where Kris Draper has made a major name for himself. When the Red Wings have needed a big faceoff win over the years, Draper gets the call, and he has responded. When Detroit won the Stanley Cup in 2008, Draper won a ridiculous 64.6 percent of his faceoffs, nearly six percentage points better than anyone else in the postseason that year.

He knew the drill. Playing for three Cup winners under Scottie Bowman, Draper was well-versed in how to handle the big faceoff.

"When Scottie threw you over the boards, he'd say, 'Just don't lose it clean,' " Draper said with a grin. "You've got to give your wings an opportunity."

"Do you cheat? Absolutely. There are some little things you can do. You just realize if you do get the faceoff win, great, and if not, you'll be tossed."
-- Kris Draper If your wings are competent, they'll take care of the rest. That's one major key: along with good hand-eye coordination and terrific anticipation skills, a top faceoff man needs alert men outside the circle.

"The guys around you, that's one of the biggest things," Malhotra said. "That's an underrated point -- you've got to have wingers who are awake on faceoffs, using their eyes, their feet."

Every faceoff man has different preferences. Draper said he uses some techniques depending on if he's on the forehand or the backhand; a little spin here, getting his feet involved there. Nichol likes to get low to make sure the other man can't get under his stick.

But what's really going on when the puck is dropped? Along with sharp reflexes, is there anything else happening? Anything ... underhanded?

"Do you cheat?" Draper asked with a chuckle. "Absolutely. There are some little things you can do. You just realize if you do get the faceoff win, great, and if not, you'll be tossed."

Nichol studies the linesmen and referees. He knows their tendencies, how they drop the puck, their rhythms. "Some guys are faster," he said. "Some guys are taller -- that makes a difference for me because I'm a smaller guy and I have a tough time with some of the bigger ones because they drop it from higher up. Some guys talk and drop at the same time. And some referees don't want to drop it; they don't want to get their hands hit."

The faceoff circle isn't for the timid. A good faceoff man can come away with a lot of bruises -- sticks in the face, smacks on the wrists and the hands; feet, shins, everything gets whacked. Some players are especially good using the butt end of their sticks, Nichol has found.

"Your fingers take a beating, your nose," Nichol said. "But it's fun to have a big win late in the game. You're the guy sent out there. It's gratifying. That's how some guys make their living."

"It's overlooked by a lot of people," Draper said. "But not by the other guys in the dressing room. They know if you've had a good night or a bad night."