Faceoffs: The most important 1-on-1 battle in hockey

faceoffSingle-digit-aged mite players everywhere are shrugging their shoulders and rolling their eyes every time coach says it: “Win the one-on-one battles.”

Sorry, kids. Coach is right. You’ll have plenty of time to grasp the fact when you’re writing about it instead of playing.

The amount of times a player beats an opponent to a puck, comes out of the corner with it or gets around the defender for a clean break at the goaltender isn’t measured by stats, but we know how important each of those things are.

There is, however, a one-on-one battle that shows up on the sheet, and it’s maybe the most decisive element of all.

Win more faceoffs, win more games.
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