Lightning works to be quicker on the draw

Players, coach John Tortorella hoping to reverse a poor history on faceoffs.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 26, 2002

BRANDON -- Hockey is a game of beginnings; many, many beginnings. How a team handles them often portends what will happen at the end.

We're talkin' faceoffs, here. Those bursts of flailing sticks and energy that start play, determine puck possession and can be the difference between winning and losing.

"It's one of the game's most important details," Lightning coach John Tortorella said after Wednesday's practice at the Ice Sports Forum. "That's what gives you the puck back. The small details take care of the bigger things, and faceoffs are one of those details."

It is a detail at which Tampa Bay has been miserable, and there are signs the malaise is lingering.

The Lightning was 27th in the league on faceoffs last season, winning 47 percent. The Hurricanes led the league at 56.1 percent. Through its four preseason games, Tampa Bay has won 47.6 percent (119 of 250), and a lost faceoff by center Tim Taylor led directly to the winning goal in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes.

Fifty percent is considered good.

It is enough of a concern that Tortorella has instructed his players to work on faceoffs each day after practice.

"I think it's a thing that has been overlooked around here," center Brad Richards said. "It can be real important."

Especially when they occur during special teams play.

Think about it. If the Lightning is on the power play and loses a faceoff in the offensive zone, it forfeits probably 20 seconds of attack time because the puck gets dumped down the ice.

With between 50 and 60 faceoffs a game, each little loss or victory like that adds up.

"We have to realize that if we win the puck on a faceoff it's a lot easier than going and chasing it every time," left wing Dave Andreychuk said. "I think we have to put more importance on it."

Tampa Bay needs more production out of Richards and center Vinny Lecavalier. Richards won 41.2 percent of his draws last season, Lecavalier 41.5.

They have excellent teachers from whom to learn. Andreychuk won 53 percent of his faceoffs last season. Taylor won 54.6 percent, though a groin injury limited him to 48 games.

While Tortorella agreed Andreychuk and Taylor should engage Richards and Lecavalier in impromptu faceoff practice sessions, the coach said Richards and Lecavalier, and any other player who wants some work, should seek out the veterans.

"You have to put a little onus on the players themselves," he said. "If they want to be put in more situations, we need to have the puck, and faceoffs are important for puck control."

They are more competitive than ever thanks to the league's new faceoff rules.

Draws are being done quicker, and both players are expected to line up at the same time. That eliminates the disadvantage to the visiting player who no longer must put his stick on the ice first.

"I used to go in last and get the advantage on the jump," Andreychuk said. "A lot of times I used to hit the stick."

Richards said quick faceoffs could be an advantage. He said lineups are so fast, the linesman dropping the puck might not notice players moving forward on the draw to gain an advantage.

Andreychuk said wings can help by being more aggressive on the puck when it pops free.

Taylor said it is best to know a linesman's quirks.

"It's all timing and who gets the jump," he said. "If you can time the ref's hand coming in, you have the advantage. I think it's all reading and reacting."

If all else fails, Taylor said, make friends with the linesmen.

"If you have a good rapport, he could give you a little leeway."

"We do have to focus on this," Lecavalier said. "If you have the puck, you have control and you'll have a good game. It sounds simple and stupid to say, but you have to win those faceoffs."