What is the strategy on a face off?

Question

What strategies or styles do players use to win a hockey face off? It just seems pretty random, with both players just trying to swipe the puck to a teammate as soon as the ref drops it. However, some players seem to always win much more than half the time (Joe Thornton comes to mind). If you are a former player (I'm not) can you tell me what you are thinking when trying to win a face off?

Answer 1

There a few different things you can do to try to employ to win a face off.

First off, you need to figure out what the situation warrants, from your point of view. As another poster said it depends what zone you are in, as to what you want to try to do with the puck.

Second you want to look at the situation from the other guy's view. What do you think he is trying to do? You kind of have to make a choice to try to foil what they are trying to do, or winning the draw outright. Sometimes by wrecking what they are trying to do, you will still "lose" the face off, but they can't run the play off the face off they want to. Then I look at how the center is holding thier stick. That sometimes is an indicator of what they are trying to do. Is he holding it backhand? Forehand? Way down low? Where are his feet? All these things can make a difference in how I choose my strategy.

The three types of faceoff techniques I commonly use are the pull-back, the push forward or to the side, and the freeze.

The pull-back is where I try to anticipate the drop. I hold my stick low on the bottom hand, and turn it over backwards to have more leverage, and stregth on the stick. I will watch only the puck, and when the ref just starts to move his hand, I will quickly push my stick forward, and hit the underside of the center's stick pushing it up, then sweep the puck backwards.

The push forward is a bit diferent. I hold the stick like I am shooting a slap shot, and when the puck drops, I try to slap the puck to the right boards, or through the defensemen.

The freeze is where you don't try to move the puck, you just want to tie up thier center, to let another player skate in and grab it.

If I am in my own zone, and I don't want them to win the draw, I will use the pull-back.

If I am in the offensive zone on the right dot,(I shoot left) I will use the pull-back most of the time to get it to my pointman for a quick shot, especially if we are on the powerplay. If I am on the left dot, I have two options. I can use the pull back, or I can use the push forward to the right, to get it towards the goal. My winger knows to go hard to the net in these types of situations.

If the face off is at center, depending on who is out there, all 3 methods can be used. The push forward to the side can be used to spring a speedy winger. The pull back can be used for the d-man to set up an outlet pass. The freeze method can be used to tie up the center, and a winger can come in and scoop it up. You can also try the "chip" style. (I can't do this one very good, so I don't use it) This is where you barely chip it behind thier center, and before they can tie you up, you slip around him, and pick up the loose puck. Typically a speedy center, or a very strong player can do this. I am neither, so I have to use my head to win draws.

Some guys just go out there with no particular idea in mind other than wailing on the other guy's stick to get it away.

Hopefully I have shed some light on face offs a bit for you. There is a lot that goes into it.

Answer 2

I've never quite understood the strategy behind the faceoff, other than to properly anticipate the linesmans hand movements - which seems iffy at best. But some guys are better at it than others. HOWEVER, even the best only get it 60% of the time - that's winning one more face off out of ten than the other guy, so it's not a huge advantage most of the time.

Of course - 10% advtantage is something.

Answer 3

the main goal of a face off is to either win the puck back into your possession or tell your wingers prior to faceoff that your going to push the puck forward so they can anticipate the drop and go after the puck. some techniques involved in a faceoff include getting a low, state of gravity so that you can push the other center away from the puck and either kick the puck back with your stick or skates, or push the puck forward. either way, you are trying to lock up the other center so he can't gain possession of the puck. also another technique is to completely lock up the center and you dont touch the puck, but you allow for one of your wingers to come in and grab it before the other team.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

If I'm in my own defensive zone, I'm concerned with "pulling" the puck back into the corner and hope a d-man gets to it. When I'm in our offensive zone, again trying to get it back to the point or possibly over to a wing for a quick one-timer. At center ice, possession is the key and either try to go back to a d-man or a winger. Preferrably a d-man so then we can set up the offense. As far as technique, styles vary as everone has their own.

Answer 6

the obvious goal is to win the puck back to your teams possesion.
So watch the refs hand, when it starts to move, you sweep your stick and get the puck. One tip, can be to try and knock away your oppenents stick, giving you an extra half second to get the puck.
You can even swing your body around once it is dropped, to try and block out the other center.
Then sweep it back to your winger, or defensemen

Answer 7

Ask Yanic Perreault

Yanic and Thornton met for 41 face-offs last year...Perreault won 29 of them

Answer 8

Its about speed and timing. You have to get your stick under theirs.

Answer 9

win it.