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FACEOFF FANATICS

Seems appropriate to talk about life in the dots when the Anaheim Ducks are in town. There is no better team at taking draws. Before arriving in Ottawa, the Ducks had taken 2,096 faceoffs and won 1,178 of them (56.2%). Leading the way is former Senators centre Antoine Vermette, who has won a ridiculous 65.9 per cent of his faceoffs. Ryan Kesler is not far behind at 58.4 per cent. Kesler has also taken nearly 200 more faceoffs than Vermette and often gets the tough defensive matchup. Vermette, though, is often the go-to guy in the defensive zone.

What makes Vermette so good? We asked Ottawa centre Kyle Turris.

“It’s a combination of getting real low and being strong, and strong on your stick. But at the same time combining that with what the other guy is doing, and identifying a weakness or a tendency he has. Know your opponent and how they like to take draws and try to get them out of their comfort zone.”

That comes with experience, which helps explain why the top faceoff men are nearly always veterans. Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron are typically high percentage faceoff winners.

Young Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid is noticeably low at 44 per cent. The Senators are slightly below average, 17thoverall in faceoffs at 49.3 per cent. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is tops on the team at 53.6 per cent. After 40 minutes Anaheim held a 23-15 (61%) advantage on faceoffs.

FAMILY FIRST

The play of Mike Condon is beyond a godsend, and into the realm of — where would this team be without him? No. 1 goaltender Craig Anderson has been away from the team since Dec. 5 and could be away for a while as his wife, Nicholle, receives cancer treatment. Backup Andrew Hammond is out with a high ankle sprain, and so it really is all about Condon. Boucher reiterated Thursday about Anderson and his possible return, “no pressure – family first.”

HOME FOR HOLIDAYS

As much as the Ducks have had a grueling travel schedule — six games in ten nights — at least one member of their group is pleased to see the trip wind up in Ottawa. When the rest of the Ducklings flew back to California, assistant coach Paul MacLean stayed behind in Ottawa to spend Christmas with his daughter and his young grandchildren.

wscanlan@postmedia.com

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