"It's an advantage to start with the puck and control play (in the offensive zone)," said Flyers centre Sean Couturier, fourth in the NHL at 57.1 per cent last season. It didn't help the Flyers get into the playoffs, but keeping the puck is paramount in today's game - six of the top eight and 12 of the top 16 clubs in faceoff wins made the post-season last spring.
Nhl 20 faceoffs full#
The Philadelphia Flyers led the NHL with a faceoff win percentage of 54.7 in 2018-19, a full 1.7 per cent higher than the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. "It'll be interesting to see." Flyers led NHL in faceoff percentage "I'm sure the coaches will figure out who to put out on the ice against me or against whoever you want to pick in the league," he said. Like everything that can be tracked in the era of analytics, he said teams will try and secure the best matchups and location on any given draw. Kopitar has been above 50 per cent since 2011-12 and was a career-high 55.1 per cent last season. Kopitar is second only to Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby in the number of faceoffs taken since coming into the league in 2006-07. "There's a lot of factors that go into that." "A big part is, 'Who am I going against?"' he said. Kopitar said he isn't sure which side he's better on - left or right - adding it's more about feel on that particular night.Īnalysis Your guide to the NHL's new rules "There might be a guy you try to avoid, but if you can get that draw back and put it (on the tape) of the guys you want to have the puck, it's definitely an advantage." "It's going to affect who you're playing," O'Reilly said. The reigning Conn Smythe and Selke Trophy winner expects the new rule to be noticeable. Louis Blues centre Ryan O'Reilly is 55.3 per cent in the faceoff circle over his career, including a league-high 60 per-cent mark in 2017-18. Most would likely choose to take a draw on the backhand and whip the puck towards the boards, meaning a right-handed player would prefer the faceoff on the right side, and vice versa. In previous seasons, the faceoff location was a judgment call made by officials after the play was blown dead.Ĭentres usually have a stronger side when it comes to winning faceoffs. Starting this season, attacking teams have the option to decide which side of the ice the puck will be dropped after an icing, at the start of a power play, on a shot from outside the red line frozen by the goalie, and when a defensive skater unintentionally dislodges the net. every team in the league is going to have some set plays based on getting the chance to pick where you're going to be.ĭuration 1:36 Referees in the NHL took a beating in the playoffs this year, and the league is taking steps to avoid it happing in the future. "Faceoffs are very important to begin with. "Yeah, of course," he said at the NHL/NHLPA media tour earlier this month.
So when the NHL announced a faceoff rule change for the 2019-20 season - teams on the attack can now choose which side of the ice play will be restarted in the offensive zone in four specific situations - Kopitar immediately knew the switch would have a huge impact. The smallest detail on a draw can mean the difference between winning and losing in a game where the importance of possession has never held greater value. Kopitar works tirelessly on his technique, rigorously studies opponents' tendencies and even scouts how individual linesmen drop the puck. And when it comes to faceoffs, it's possible the Los Angeles Kings centre is even more meticulous.
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