On the power play, possession outweighs a technically clean win. If the opponent clears the puck after a lost draw, the unit loses roughly 20 seconds resetting, which costs both usable time and energy. That is why the book sometimes recommends simply tying up the opposing center instead of risking a failed clean win: both wingers, already moving, then go fight for the loose puck.
Three setups cover the essentials. The Traditional Alignment pushes both wingers toward the opposing defensemen right on the win or the tie-up, and toward the corner on a loss. Double Up Outside instead places both wingers on the same side, along the boards, to maximize the odds of winning the second effort on a loose puck, with a defenseman adjusted to the opposing center's shooting hand to block his direct clear. Double Up Inside mirrors it, with both wingers inside the circle instead of on the boards, and watches in particular for the case where a winger ends up completely wide open in front of the net.
On the penalty kill, the faceoff is only one of four stages covered in the full penalty kill guide: the forecheck, the box or diamond setup, and the escalating pressure take over once the puck is contained. Here, two plays answer specifically to a win in the defensive zone: Corner Bump, where the first defenseman immediately relays the puck to the winger who dropped to the wide corner while the second defenseman screens, and Rim Clear, where both defensemen switch sides before the draw to clear more naturally off their strong hand.
The common thread on both special teams: possession beats style. A center who ties up smartly instead of forcing a risky win contributes just as much to his team as one who wins cleanly, even though only the second version shows up clearly in a raw percentage. Tracking faceoffs won and lost separately on the power play and the penalty kill in RinkLog surfaces that nuance a single overall percentage never shows.
From the stands, watch what happens in the two or three seconds after the drop, not just who touches the puck first. A center who ties up and then watches his wingers win the second effort is doing exactly his job; a center who forces a clean win and loses it hands the opponent a free breakout, with the 20-second cost that comes with it on the power play.
On special teams, a faceoff is never just an individual duel: it is the first tactical decision of a sequence that then runs 90 seconds or two minutes. Playing it well, whether won or tied up, sets the tone for everything that follows.
- An opposing clear after a lost draw costs roughly 20 seconds of resetting
- Tying up the opposing stick often beats a risky clean win on the power play
- Double Up Outside and Double Up Inside both exploit the second effort on a loose puck
- On the penalty kill, both defensemen switching sides makes clearing off the strong hand easier
Frequently asked questions
Why does a lost faceoff cost 20 seconds on the power play?
Because an opposing clear forces the unit to start over from zero: exit its own zone, cross the blue line, then set back up in the offensive zone. The book puts that full cycle at roughly 20 seconds, a precious chunk of a two-minute penalty.
Double Up Outside or Double Up Inside: which one should you run?
The choice depends on the unit's strong side that night. Double Up Outside places both wingers on the boards; Double Up Inside places them inside the circle. Both chase the same goal, maximizing the odds of winning a loose puck, through mirrored geometry.
Does the penalty kill have its own faceoff plays?
Only two, both for a win in the defensive zone: Corner Bump and Rim Clear. For the rest of the sequence, the full penalty kill guide covers the forecheck, the box, the diamond press and the escalating pressure once the puck is contained.
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