NHL Notes: Pre-faceoff huddle now becoming the norm

There’s been a new trend forming in the NHL the last few seasons, and this year the Bruins have made it a normal practice: football-style huddles before nearly every faceoff.

“It’s slowly developing that way the last few years,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said. “You see it happening more and more.”



At times, the five players will form a tight huddle to discuss the game plan for the drop. That usually occurs at the start of the game, start of the period or after a TV timeout. Other times, it’s just a quick signal from the center to his four teammates. Every once in a while they call an audible and that’s when you see wingers, or defensemen, switching sides.

Puck possession is so important in this league and the best way to have success is to start with the puck. That’s why the huddle has become so important. Even before advanced analytics take over, it’s the players discussing the upcoming faceoff that proves crucial.

“You try for that perfection. That’s what we do,” Chara said. “We’re constantly trying to be perfect. Is that going to happen? No. Hopefully, it works more times when you plan and that could be the difference in the game.”

When lining up for a faceoff, players will look to see how the opponent is set up. Small details come into play, like which direction does a player have his skates facing. Since a winger is in motion, if the puck is won but it’s not clean, the winger can make a quick touch pass to where the puck needs to go.

The game is so fast, especially on faceoffs because of the new rules and wider hash marks to cut down on body contact. Players are on the puck quicker than in the past. Those are a few reasons why the huddle has become so important.

“Just knowing what to do if you win or lose the faceoff,” explained Chara. “Everybody’s doing it now. The game is broken down into every detail, every point now. If you win a faceoff, if you don’t have five guys doing what they’re supposed to do simultaneously you’re not going to make a play. The other team knows what they’re going to do if they lose the faceoff. If you’re standing around, trying to react, it’s not going to work.”

The other aspect that’s important for the huddle, especially with the Bruins, is to make sure the younger players understand the situation. Veterans that have been playing together for a long time can usually get away with a look or a head nod, but with rookies it’s important they know exactly what to do.

Earlier this season, the Los Angeles Kings used the hockey huddle to perfection and it resulted in a 2-1 overtime win against the Bruins with 0.4 seconds remaining. So, next time you’re watching a game, keep track how many times each time forms a huddle before a faceoff and you’ll be surprised by how often it happens.

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It’s been a week since the Bruins held their annual dad’s trip. We discussed the adventure in last Sunday’s notes, but many times since the subject of why the majority of hockey players are the best athletes to deal with has come up. Actually, it’s nothing new and the answer is always simple: hockey players learn about sacrifice at a young age. They understand their parents are waking up and bringing their sons or daughters to early-morning practices. Players learn hockey is an expensive sport, and in some cases, parents get part-time jobs to pay for hockey. Ice is expensive and limited. Players never forget those sacrifices.

Brad Marchand admitted it wasn’t until he reached the NHL when he realized exactly how much his parents did for him before he accomplished his ultimate goal.

“It was more recent, the last couple of years when you look back on it,” admitted Marchand. “As you’re growing up and going through it, you take it all for granted. You expect your parents to do those things, you expect them to get up in the morning, and spend all the money, get out of work early, get you out of school and drive you around everywhere. You expect them to do that, but when you look back on it and realize it’s a privilege to be able to do those things, and what your parents give up you appreciate more when you get older.

“Now I really realize how much they did for me and what they had to give up and how they’ve revolved their whole lives around mine and my brother and sister’s sports. We can all say we wouldn’t be (in the NHL) if it wasn’t for our parents and what they gave up and what they were willing to do for us, so we’re very fortunate.”

This is a good teaching lesson for young players, and at some point, when the timing is right, I’ll make sure the players on my son’s PeeWee team listen to Marchand's recording.

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New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist earned his 419th career win during a 5-2 victory over the Devils on Saturday to pass Tony Esposito (Blackhawks) for the second-most by a goaltender with one organization in NHL history. . . There have been 23 instances of a team scoring at least seven goals this season, which is the most through the first 455 games of a season since 2010-11. In fact, only three other seasons in the past 21 years have featured as many scenarios through 455 games – 2006-07 (23), 2005-06 (27) and 1996-97 (27). . . Malcolm Subban and the Vegas Golden Knights posted a 4-3 shootout victory over brother P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators on Friday. Malcolm finished with 41 saves. It was the first regular-season setting between the brothers Subban. They became the 10th set of brothers to meet in an NHL game