Benefits of the Faceoff

[Zakk852]

ive searched for a while and couldnt find anything but here goes what are the major benefits of a long pole doing the face off is there a big advantage or what

[itsthatkid]

The only advantage I could think of is the longpole could tie up the other x guy easier, allowing for his wing men to get in and help out.

[GBaschski]

Most of the time, when a team puts a long pole on the face-off it is because their primary face-off guys are getting dominated, and they want to prevent the fast break by using a long pole middie to slow up the opposing face-off man.
There are time, however, when a team's best face-off man just happens to be a longstick middie. That was the case with UMass' Jake Deane in 2006. That guy could pinch and pop with the best of 'em.

[jrmelax16]

A LSM taking face-offs is also used in the situation that the other teams face-off man gets the ball, but doesn't have that good of stick skills. Your LSM will basically let the guy win- just to strip the ball from him the second he picks it up.