Unsung Heroes: 2nd Line Centers

[omgitshim 902]

When people evaluate forwards, they always look for the flashy stats. Who has the most points? Who is scoring goals? Who racks up the most hits? While these are all stats that tell you how good a player has done, when it comes to Centers, there's one more stat that is criminally underrated: Faceoff Percentage. A player who wins at least 55% of their faceoffs gives their team one more possession over their opponent for every 11 faceoffs taken. The faceoff leaders are taking upwards of 40 faceoffs a game, so getting an extra 4 possessions every game over your opponent is not an insignificant thing. Controlling the puck wins you games, and every possession is another chance for points. While we expect most top line Centers to excel at faceoffs, today we will take a look at two second line centers who are the best at winning extra possessions for their team.

 

Anthony Matthews, Riga Reign @Anthony Matthews

 

When it comes to winning faceoffs, Anthony Matthews is among the best in the league. Forget being the leader amongst 2nd line guys, Matthews' 57.82% win rate is 5th in the entire VHL. Matthews doesn't get as much run as some of the other 2nd line players, given that he is not part of Riga's 4th line, but even at 21.37 minutes per game, Matthews is averaging roughly 23 faceoffs per game, winning 13 of them in the process. You can bet getting an extra 3 possessions per game from your 2nd line is a big reason for Riga's success this season. In fact, Riga leads the entire VHL with a team Faceoff Percentage of 54.21%. Matthews presence has been a stabilizing force for Riga's second line, and his passing ability helps that line maintain control of the puck throughout the game. The 4th year center has already set career highs this season in points, hits, and shot blocks this season, and he could very well help Riga secure a Champion's Cup as well.

 

Micheal Gary Scott, Vancouver Wolves @Motzaburger

 

Everyone talks about Hunter Hearst Helmsley, but few mention the man propping his team up on the second line. Micheal Gary Scott may be the best second center in the entire VHL. While he doesn't quite match up to Matthews with a Faceoff Percentage of just 56.61%, he makes up the difference in volume. Scott takes a whopping 33 faceoffs per game, winning 19 of them, giving the Wolves a 5 possession advantage while he's on the ice. As a team, Vancouver is just behind Riga at 54.08% on the season. If you're wondering why these two teams are at the top of their conferences, these players are a big reason why. Scott has been much more than just a faceoff specialist though; he's been a huge part of Vancouver's success across the board. He has greatly increased his goal production, netting 25 this season after scoring just 7 a piece in his first two seasons, and he has also set career highs in assists, points, and hits. His 6 game winning goals are also second on the team. While there were reports of Scott attempting to force his way out at the trade deadline, Vancouver stuck to their guns and kept him in house, and his performance tells you why they had no willingness to get rid of him.

[Anthony Matthews 65]

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