Lacrosse Face Off Rules: A Comprehensive Guide to Faceoff Techniques and Regulations

What are the key responsibilities of a lead official in lacrosse faceoffs. How should players position themselves for a faceoff. What pre-whistle violations should officials watch for. What post-whistle actions are considered illegal during a faceoff.

The Role of the Lead Official in Lacrosse Faceoffs

In lacrosse, the lead official plays a crucial role in ensuring fair and proper execution of faceoffs. Their responsibilities include:

• Placing the ball at the center X
• Signaling the start of the 20-second timer
• Overseeing player positioning
• Conducting the faceoff sequence

The lead official begins by bringing the ball to the center X, holding it above their head to signal the start of the 20-second timer. They then place the ball directly in the center of the X or in the middle of the centermost part of the field if no X is present.

Once the ball is placed, the official waits for the ready-for-play signal from the wing official. During this time, they may remind players of previously violated rules or ask them to “Show Me Plastic,” ensuring proper stick positioning.

Faceoff Cadence and Player Positioning

The faceoff cadence is a crucial aspect of the process. It must follow the sequence: Down, Set, Whistle. Players rely on this consistent rhythm to prepare for the faceoff.

When bringing players down, the official ensures they go to the ground simultaneously. Early in the game, verbal warnings may be given for minor violations before the “Set” command. However, repeated infractions should not be tolerated.

Once players are in position, the official announces “Set” loud enough for both players to hear. At this point, players must remain silent and motionless until the whistle blows.

Pre-Whistle Violations in Lacrosse Faceoffs

Officials must be vigilant for several pre-whistle violations during lacrosse faceoffs. These include:

• Players not going down simultaneously
• Hands or sticks touching the 4-inch midline
• Hands touching the plastic of the stick head
• Improper ball placement between stick heads
• Presence of tape on the stick head
• Stick heads not perpendicular to the ground
• Hands not touching the ground
• Body positioned incorrectly relative to the stick
• Any part of the stick touching the ball
• Movement after the “Set” command

Are there consequences for pre-whistle violations? Yes, if a player commits any of these violations, the official may stand both players up before the whistle or immediately blow the whistle and signal an illegal procedure, awarding possession to the opposing team.

Post-Whistle Infractions and Illegal Actions

After the whistle blows to start the faceoff, officials must watch for several illegal actions:

1. Pinning down an opponent’s or one’s own crosse with any body part
2. Deliberately delaying the release of the ball
3. Taking “body” off the whistle or hitting a kneeling player
4. Intentionally kicking an opponent’s crosse
5. Touching the ball with fingers or palms
6. Keeping the ball stuck in the stick head

How are post-whistle violations penalized? If a player commits any of these infractions, the official should immediately blow the whistle and signal an illegal procedure, awarding possession to the opposing team. In some cases, such as touching the ball with fingers or palms, a one-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty may be assessed.

The Importance of Quick Whistles in Modern Lacrosse

Quick whistles have become an essential aspect of modern lacrosse officiating, particularly during faceoffs. This approach helps maintain the pace of the game and ensures fair play.

Why are quick whistles important in lacrosse faceoffs? Quick whistles serve several purposes:

• They prevent prolonged struggles for possession
• They reduce the risk of injury during extended ground battles
• They help maintain the flow and tempo of the game
• They encourage clean and fair faceoff techniques

Officials are encouraged to blow the whistle immediately if players are five yards away from the player in possession of the ball. This quick decision-making helps all players on the field become comfortable with the pace and expectations of modern lacrosse.

Equipment Regulations for Lacrosse Faceoffs

Proper equipment is crucial for fair and safe faceoffs in lacrosse. Officials must ensure that players adhere to specific equipment regulations:

• No tape on the stick head
• Stick heads must be perpendicular to the ground
• The ball must be placed between the widest parts of the stick heads
• No part of the stick (pocket, strings, plastic) should touch the ball before the whistle

What happens if a player’s equipment violates these regulations? If an official notices any equipment violations, they should address them before the faceoff begins. This may involve asking players to adjust their sticks or, in some cases, penalizing the offending player with an illegal procedure call.

The “Show Me Plastic” Request

Officials may ask players to “Show Me Plastic” before a faceoff. This request serves to ensure that players’ hands are not touching the plastic of the stick head, which would be a violation. It also allows officials to verify that the stick heads are properly positioned and free of any illegal modifications.

Player Positioning and Body Mechanics During Faceoffs

Proper player positioning is essential for a fair and legal faceoff in lacrosse. Players must adhere to specific body mechanics and positioning requirements:

• The entire body must be to the left of the stick head
• Both hands must be touching the ground
• Players must remain motionless after the “Set” command
• The body should not be used to pin down an opponent’s or one’s own crosse

How does proper positioning contribute to a fair faceoff? Correct positioning ensures that both players have an equal opportunity to gain possession of the ball when the whistle blows. It prevents one player from gaining an unfair advantage through body positioning or pre-whistle movement.

Common Positioning Violations

Officials should watch for these common positioning violations during faceoffs:

1. Leaning too far forward or backward
2. Shifting weight to one side
3. Lifting hands off the ground
4. Moving any part of the body after “Set”
5. Positioning the body to the right of the stick head

Faceoff Techniques and Strategies

While officials focus on enforcing rules, players employ various techniques and strategies to gain an advantage during faceoffs. Some common approaches include:

• The clamp: Quickly clamping down on the ball with the back of the stick
• The rake: Raking the ball backwards to a teammate
• The plunger: Pushing forward to pop the ball out in front
• The motorcycle grip: A specific hand placement for increased power and control

Are all faceoff techniques legal? While these techniques are generally legal, players must execute them without violating any of the previously mentioned rules. Officials must be aware of these strategies to distinguish between legal techniques and rule violations.

Adapting to Opponent Strategies

Experienced faceoff specialists often adapt their techniques based on their opponent’s tendencies. This may involve:

1. Changing the angle of approach
2. Varying the timing of their movements
3. Using different stick placements
4. Employing counter-moves to opponent’s preferred techniques

Officials should be prepared for these variations while ensuring that all actions remain within the bounds of legal play.

The Impact of Faceoffs on Game Strategy and Momentum

Faceoffs play a crucial role in lacrosse game strategy and can significantly impact the momentum of a match. Winning faceoffs provides several advantages:

• Increased possession time
• Opportunity to score quick goals
• Ability to control the pace of the game
• Psychological advantage over the opponent

How do successful faceoffs influence team strategy? Teams with strong faceoff specialists may adjust their tactics to capitalize on this advantage. This could include:

1. Employing more aggressive offensive strategies
2. Using fast-break plays immediately after winning faceoffs
3. Focusing on ball control and time management
4. Adapting defensive strategies to counter opponent’s faceoff success

Coaches and players must be aware of the impact of faceoffs on overall game strategy and be prepared to adjust their approach based on faceoff performance throughout the match.

The Role of Wing Players in Faceoffs

While the faceoff specialist is central to the action, wing players also play a crucial role in faceoff success. Their responsibilities include:

• Anticipating the direction of the ball
• Providing support to the faceoff specialist
• Contesting loose balls
• Initiating quick transitions after gaining possession

Effective coordination between faceoff specialists and wing players can significantly enhance a team’s success rate in faceoff situations.

Ask a Ref: All About Faceoffs

Editor’s Note: This post is co-authored by Mark Donahue and Gordon Corsetti. The following information is based on the 2014 NFHS Rulebook, Official’s Mechanics Manual, and knowledge gained from many years of repetition.

Duties of the Lead Official

After a goal is scored or to begin a half, as the Lead Official, bring the ball up to the Center X, hold it directly above your head and then immediately place it directly in the center or the X. If there is not X, spot the ball directly in the middle of the line in the centermost part of the field. By holding the ball over your head you are signifying to your partner to turn on the 20-second timer.

Stand over the ball until you receive the Ready For Play signal from the Wing Official. While you wait, you can ask the players standing to “Show Me Plastic” or small reminders about previously violated rules, but I don’t recommend carrying the conversation on with the faceoff men much past the first quarter at the higher levels.

Once the Wing Official lowers his arm pointing to the goal he will be the lead on, you may back off the ball. Some officials rotate where they stand on faceoffs from straddling the midline to standing over the player’s shoulder. Honestly, by picking either place you will give up a visual angle at either: a) the neutral zone from the midline position or b) leaning over the line from the shoulder position. I personally prefer to give up the neutral zone and straddle the line, flipping sides occasionally. Just remember, no matter where you stand you aren’t going to be out of the line of fire.

The cadence for faceoffs must be Down, Set, Whistle, faceoff men are counting on this.

Bring the players Down, making sure that they go to the ground simultaneously. Early in the game, unless the player comes down and actually moves the ball, just about any violation that occurs I will give the players a verbal warning to adjust before Set. If you have warned a particular faceoff man already about any particular violations, I don’t recommend giving him another chance the next time around.

Once the players come down, approach the ball and get in to their best stance, you shall announce loud enough for the players to both players to hear the words Set. Once you say the words Set, players are to remain silent and motionless. Until you verbally say set, unless the players have touched the ball, they have not committed any violations (except potentially equipment).

What To Look For Pre-whistle

• Players going Down at the same time.
• Hands/Sticks are not touching the 4” in midline.
• Hands are not touching the plastic of the head.
• The ball is placed between the widest parts of the head.
• No tape is on the head.
• Heads are perpendicular to the ground.
• Both hands are touching the ground.
• The entire body is to the left of the head.
• No part of the stick (pocket, strings, plastic) is touching the ball.
• Players motionless after Set.

Watching The Play Post-whistle

• Pinning their own or opponents crosse down with any part of their body, specifically elbows and knees.
• Deliberately delaying getting the ball out by pinning to the ground for an exaggerated amount of time.
• Taking “body” off the whistle, or hitting the player while he is on his knees when the ball “comes out.”
• Kicking the crosse with the first step, a faceoff man will try to plant his foot behind the head of his opponent and sometime he may kick the head intentionally or not, it must be called.
• A player touching the ball with his fingers or palms, if you see this immediately throw the flag and blow the whistle to signal a 1 minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.  Note: It the player punched the ball out or rakes it backward with his closed hand the play is legal as long as his hands are wrapped around the shaft.
• The ball being stuck in the head. Remember, the ball is not stuck until we can prove it. That means he essentially gets one “shake” or one lacrosse motion (throw, flip, etc.) to get the ball from the back of the head to the front. Also, if the defense checks the stick in a way that it is impossible for the ball to not come out, then we can prove it, but little stick checks a the player is evading may not justify the Illegal Procedure call. Note: The player can run with the ball in the back of his head as long as he wants and may even shoot and score if he chooses. It is not Illegal Procedure until he violates one of the above situations.
• If a player violates any of the listed situations, stand both players up pre-whistle or blow the whistle immediately and signal Illegal Procedure and point in the direction of the new goal to be attacked. If the players are five yards away from the player in possession of the ball, don’t hesitate to blow your whistle immediately. The quick whistle aspect of modern lacrosse is very important to get everyone on the field comfortable with.

I know it’s a college video, but it’s worth noting that kids are sending themselves to college for being a FOGO. These kids are dedicating their lives to the art of facing off, please give them and the game the respect it deserves by making sure the rules are followed and that you continue to improve as an official while the athletes continue to improve their craft.

Duties of the Wing Official

Once the Face Off Official brings the ball to Center X for the next face the Wing Official checks that the entire field is ready for play. The Wing Official, as the name suggests, stands near the wing line and starts the 20-second timer once the Face Off official brings the ball to Center X. Once the timer is running both teams have 20 seconds to get the correct players on the field and in the correct spots:

• 3 in the offensive end behind the restraining line*
• 4 in the defensive end behind the restraining line (3 players + 1 goalkeeper)
• 3 in between the restraining lines (1 player on each wing + 1 face off player) Note – Players do not have to stay inside the box before or during a face off. They are confined to the area below the restraining line so standing in the alley is okay.

Teams can check that the 20-second timer is active by looking at the wing official. One arm held in the air signifies that the field is not ready for play and that the timer is running. If one team is not set and the 20-second timer buzzes the Wing Official will penalize that team by turning the ball over with a Delay Of Game (DOG) call. Generally, if both teams are not set and the timer goes off the Wing Official will turn the timer off and inform both teams to be quicker getting onto the field.

Once the field is set the Wing Official will move his arm from up in the air to pointing at the goal he covers as the Lead Official at shoulder level. This is the ready signal, which tells the Face Off Official that the field is set and the face off can now begin.

Everything you want to know about positioning of players before a face off and penalties that can occur during the face can be found in NFHS Rule 4. 4. The major rule difference this season from last season is that a man down team is not permitted to fill the wing on a man down face off. This rule makes a lot of sense. Why should a team that committed a penalty (usually a non-releasable foul, or a live-ball personal foul) be permitted to face off against the other team at even strength? I really liked this rule change because it makes my job as the wing official on a man down face easier because I don’t have to identify the “Hot” player filling the wing, and I don’t have to worry at all about offside calls during the face.

While that is the big rule change for 2014, there are a lot of other situations during a face that can cause confusion. The biggest one for officials to recognize is a non-releasable penalty that has only a few second left and a face off about to occur. A player in the penalty box who gets counted down to zero does not get to release from the box until the face off is over (possession called or ball crosses the restraining line). The easiest way I describe this situation is that if a player is not participating in the face off (wing or face off midfielders) then they do not get to participate until possession is called or the ball crosses the restraining line and play is called. This is a safety rule through and through. Say a Red player has two seconds left on his non-releasable foul and a face off begins. The ball squirts over to near the box and a White player is just about to pick it up when the Red player is released. The Red player hits the unaware White player and now the officials likely have a defenseless player call to make. If there are two seconds left on a foul to start a man-down face off that player remains in the box even if the face off takes 45 seconds before possession or play is declared.

Anytime there is a penalty on the face off the ball should be awarded to the offended team on their side of the field at Center X, unless the ball was already on their offensive side of the field when the other team commits the foul. The big thing to note here is that the players behind the restraining lines are not released until the whistle to restart play is sounded.

The Wing Official in a two-man crew has a difficult job right before the face off. He must simultaneously watch four wing players running into the center of the field at full speed. The tricky part is that two of those players are almost forty yards away from the Wing Official. I like to check if the players are near one another on the wings. If they are on opposite ends of the wing line I leave them alone for the most part since those players are not getting in each other’s way anytime soon, but if two players are jostling for position or are right next to one another I am focusing most of my attention on them*. Oh, fun fact – I can barely make out the wing line opposite me as the Wing Official and I don’t try to. I ran LSM when I played and I always lined up over the wing line when I saw the officials were in a two-man crew and the wing official was opposite me. I used a weak point in two-man mechanics to gain an advantage for myself on the face off, but I always made sure to be fully behind the line when the Wing Official was on my side of the field.

Note – It is perfectly acceptable for the wing players to gain a running start or move prior to the whistle. They may not touch or cross the wing line with any part of their body so leaning over it with the crosse is okay as well. Wing players are bound by the wing line so no lining up right at the top of the restraining line on your defensive side of the field to stop a fast break!

Finally, I must make note of the saddest moment of the pre-season for me as I was reading through my new 2014 rulebook. Rule 4.4.3 Situation B used to allow opposing goalkeepers to face off in the event that both teams had a player in the penalty box. Ever since I started officiating I wanted to see this happen, but now I never will as the new version of Rule 4.4.3 Situation B clearly states that opposing goalkeepers may not face off.

How To Win The Draw In Women’s Lacrosse Face-off

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July 10, 2022March 7, 2022 by Adrian James

Apart from the no-contact rule in women’s lacrosse, it differs from men’s lacrosse in another significant way which is the draw, the women’s version of a face-off. Essentially they serve the same purpose. Both happen at the start of each game and after every goal. 

Since possession is the no.1 determining factor between a win or a loss in lacrosse, learning the best way to win a draw goes a long way. Statistically speaking, roughly two-thirds of all wins take place when teams have higher faceoff success. 

Hence, for women players who are responsible for draws, you want to make sure to learn the best and correct way so that your team can gain an immediate advantage over your opponent. 

With all that out of the way, let’s jump in.

How does a draw take place?

At the start of every game, the draw starts with two opposing midfield players facing each other in the center of the field. The players hold their sticks out with the back of the sticks’ pockets against each other. The official then places the ball between the pockets and each player applies a little pressure so that the ball maintains its position in between the sticks. 

Players’ feet cannot step over to the other side. The sticks also must be lined up with the centerline and maintain waist level at all times before the ball is released. 

After the official blows the whistle, each player pulls her draw stick upwards or backwards to snap the ball out of the pockets. As soon as the ball is released, the game official starts and players start fighting for possession.

Drawing isn’t an arbitrary procedure. There are two main draw methods in women’s lacrosse: the push draw and the pull draw to push the ball toward your offensive side.

The Push Draw

To do a push draw, place your right hand on the top of your stick near the throat and your left hand on the bottom near the butt end. After you and the opponent are in position and the official blows the whistle, push the stick forward with your right hand in the meantime pull the butt end of your stick toward your body. 

To maximize your success of a push draw, here are a few things to remember:

• Having a quick hand is the best way to ensure a successful draw. The faster your hand can rotate and turn over, the more likely you can push the ball in the desired direction
• When doing a draw, it’s very important to be in an athletic stance by bending your knees and using your legs to generate the power. In addition, rotating your hip should be the main source of your power to bring the stick over your head
• To keep the draw legal, your hands have to come up and over the height of your shoulders. So even in a push draw, make sure your hands go above your shoulders

This will result in the ball being pushed in front of you so you want to react quickly to pick up the ball. No matter what method you use, someone who is great at drawing can control where the ball is going and respond instantly. 

Below is a great clip that walks through all the key components of taking a good draw

The Pull Draw

In contrast, a pull draw, which sounds exactly like the name, is done by pulling the stick toward you and rotating your hips to generate power. In pull draw, place your left hand on the top of your stick near the head and your right hand on the bottom near the butt-end.

After the whistle is blown, you want to pull the stick with your left hand in the meantime pushing the stick forward with your right hand. Once the ball is released, quickly respond to pick up the ball. 

Again just to iterate, quick hands, strength and fast response are the fundamental pieces that allow you to get a good draw every time.  

Watch this great clip to learn how to perform a powerful pull draw

Breakdown of new draw rules

Recently NCAA has made several changes to the rules around drawing. To make sure you are 100% familiar with them to avoid penalties, let’s break them down. 

There are mainly two major changes in order to promote more fairness in the game. As mentioned in the section previous, the first change states that the player’s stick must be parallel to the centerline during a draw. Thus, on top of being directly above the centerline, the new rule introduced a new level of complexity and equality for both sides. 

The second major change has to do with defenders’ and attackers’ positions during a draw. Apart from middies, all other players behind the restraining line must stay inside until the possession has been achieved. Which means only the six middies inside the midfield zone can participate in the draw. 

In other words, all players are only free to go across the midline when either one team gains possession or the ball is behind a restraining line.

It’s very important to follow the most recent draw changes, especially the second one for players who are behind the restraining lines. It’s very easy to forget to stay behind and be patient when you want to eagerly gain possession for your team. So for beginners, remember to hold your horses and don’t recklessly cross into the zone when it could cost the team a precious possession.

One pro tip is even when you are stuck behind the restraining line, you can reach over for the ball. As long as your body doesn’t touch the ground past the line.

More tips to help you win the draw

• Put your dominant hand as close as you can to the stick’s head

By doing so, you gain much more leverage and control over the ball

• Anticipate the whistle

Pay attention to the official. If you see she is about to blow the whistle, make sure your body and hands are ready

• Quickly adjust after losing the draw

Even if you lost the draw, it’s not the end of the world. At the same time, it doesn’t mean your job is done either. Quickly transition to play defensive and seize every opportunity to intercept and regain possession

Categories How To Info Guide, How To Training Guide, Lacrosse Info, Lacrosse Training

Adrian James

I am Adrian from Florida. After playing lacrosse for 15 years, I decided to start this website to share my journey and knowledge to help people get better at lacrosse.

Throw-in

Throw-in is a method used to start and resume play after a goal in some stick sports, most notably bandy, bandy, floorball, broomball, rinkball and lacrosse.

During a faceoff, two teams line up against each other and the opposing players attempt to gain control of the puck or ball after it has been dropped or otherwise placed between their sticks by the referee.

Hockey face-offs (also called “hooligans” and originally called “pucks”) are usually taken by centers, although some offensive players will take face-offs and, very rarely, defensemen. ^[1] One of the referees shoots the puck at the center of the ice at the start of each period and after a goal has been scored. Linesmen are responsible for all other face-offs.

One player from each team stands at the faceoff spot (see below) waiting for the puck to be dropped. All teammates must be on the side or behind the player taking the throw-in. ^[2] Generally, the goal of the player taking the faceoff is to take the puck back to teammates; however, they sometimes try to shoot the puck forward past the other team, usually to kill time on the shorthand, although it is also possible to hit directly into the net – to score a goal directly after the face-off, although rare, is not uncommon from. However, if the face-off takes place at one of the five face-off spots around which circles are marked, only two opposing players responsible for the face-off may be in the circle. A common setup, especially in the center of the ice, is for the fielder to take the throw-in with the wings positioned to the side of the center on both sides, and the fielder, usually a defender, behind the thrower, one to each side. However, this is not mandatory, vol.

Face-offs are usually held at designated areas marked on the ice, called spots or face-off spots . There are nine such points: two in each attack zone, two at each end of the neutral zone, and one in the center of the court. . Throw-ins did not always take place at marked face-off spots. For example, if the puck leaves the playing surface, the face-off will take place where the puck was last played. On June 20, 2007, the NHL Board of Governors approved a change to NHL Rule 76.2, which governs face-off venues. The rule now requires all face-offs to be taken at one of the nine face-off spots on the ice, regardless of what caused the stoppage of play. Rule 76.2 also states that, with certain exceptions, the face-off after a penalty must take place at one of the two face-off spots on the side of the offending team. ^[1]

The referee may send off the player taking the throw-in if that player or any other player on the same team attempts to gain an unfair advantage during the throw-in (this is called a throw-in violation). When a player is sent off, one of the teammates who did not originally participate in the face-off shall administer the face-off. Common face-off violations include: moving the stick before the puck is dropped, improperly placing the stick on request, not placing the body perpendicular to the face-off spot, or invading the face-off circle by a teammate. . In the NHL, an away team player must place his stick on the ice for a face-off first when it occurs at a spot on the center line. For all other throw-ins, the defending player must put down his stick first. Prior to the 2015–16 league season, the visiting player was required to put his stick first in all face-offs. ^[3]
A player who specializes in throw-in is sometimes called or considered a throw-in specialist.

Throw-in during a National Hockey League game in 2008.

Two lacrosse players prepare for a face-off while the referee places the ball on the ground between the heads of their clubs.

Players prepare for the toss in a women’s college lacrosse game

Two female hockey players prepare to start or restart a match with hooliganism at midfield.

The Brilliant Match begins with a roll of at in the center of the Brilliant Field.

Roman Rotenberg’s secret of SKA’s success: they played goalik, as I promised – Hockey News

Torpedo dragged the winner of the regular season for the first time in this Gagarin Cup in extra time. SKA’s home field helped after all – 2:1

The debut match of the series at any stage of the playoffs is the most intriguing. After all, this is a different life. It is pointless to remember what happened in the regular season. “Admiral”, who took 13th place in the overall standings, proved this perfectly in conjunction with the second team of the East “Salavat Yulaev”. So, three victories of SKA in four meetings with Torpedo will remain in the annals of history, and in the Gagarin Cup-2023 everything is written from scratch.

No, not really. Something similar could be said about the start of the young Professor in the knockout battles. Torpedo, with an average age of 22, had three matches and half of the first period of the fourth to adapt to the much more experienced and powerful Dynamo Moscow. Get comfortable, believe in yourself and simply run across the blue and white. In all three overtimes that followed, the car manufacturers dominated and deservedly achieved success. That was admitted by the coach of the defeated Alexei Kudashov. Say, by the end of the series, the wards physically sank, and some of the players were very disappointed.

In contrast to this, Igor Larionov did not drop anyone. On the contrary, during the six matches with Dynamo, everyone improved to one degree or another. Personally, I especially liked the forwards Firstov and Jan, the defenders Fedotov and Bokun, the goalkeeper Kulbakov. The potential of the shock trio Kovalenko – Kruchinin – Goncharuk was clear even in the regular season.

Photo source: HC “Torpedo” (Nizhny Novgorod)

What did SKA demonstrate in the first round in the confrontation with Dynamo Minsk? Here the picture is ambiguous. First of all, in the most important cup position – the goalkeeper. Nikolaev sometimes launched frank butterflies. In one of the matches with the Belarusians, our top defender Nikishin scored several own goals. The popular ex-Enkhael players Gusev, Prokhorkin, Zykov, two of whom took the gold of the 2018 Olympics, managed to finish the last game with the Bison (4:2) with negative utility – by “minus 1”!

That’s why the opening match of the western semi-finals seemed extremely important. You could say it’s a milestone. Will we see, in spite of everything, the continuation of the season series, when SKA defeated Torpedo three times – 3:0 and 6:2 (twice), or will Nizhny Novgorod, on the wave of reckless reprisals against Dynamo, develop success in the cradle of the revolution?

Half an hour before the starting throw-in, the line-ups appeared. The first two for both teams looked very impressive. SKA has Yashkin – Khusnutdinov – Gusev and Khairullin – Vorobyov – Zhafyarov. At “Torpedo” – Firstov – Letunov – Yan and Kovalenko – Kruchinin – Goncharuk. Former Los Angeles forward Prokhorkin was in the fourth trio of hosts. I was especially pleased that both of the most spectacular teams in the KHL did not have a single legionnaire!

In a word, all the strongest are in action. Interestingly, before going out on the ice, the Professor, who arrived at Ledovy by metro, said that the Torpedo players would continue to play the hockey they had been showing all season. His opponent Roman Rotenberg put it more original:

– The main thing is not a pasik, but a golik!

And one more curious detail: both clubs have chosen the same slogan for the season “The impossible is possible!”. But, as we all remember very well, Bolivar cannot stand two. After all, the question is, who is this loser?

The first third was boring. Opponents were wary. They went forward with limited forces, constantly leaving a couple of hockey players in the rear. The game opened up a bit when the army team broke the rules on Kovalenko. Goncharuk could have opened an account from the middle penny – Nikolaev helped out. Then Kovalenko himself managed to fall out on the SKA gate, but launched the puck into the sky. The hosts entered the game thanks to two removals from the Volga. Here Kulbakov did not let us down.

Photo source: HC “Torpedo” (Nizhny Novgorod)

In general, twenty minutes were spent on banal reconnaissance. The distant shop of the second period, when it is easier to change in attack, promised more aggressive hockey.

And so it happened. But only from the side of the guests. Three minutes after the break, Goncharuk, Belevich, Konyushkov, Jan had excellent chances to print Nikolaev. Especially in the latter case. But the hero of two overtimes with Dynamo, like Kovalenko, threw over the crossbar from two meters.

In the 35th minute Nikishin hooked Firstov, who was running one on one. Bullitt! Performed by the best scorer of the car factory Kruchinin. But what is it? The third duel between Torpedo forwards and Nikolaev turns into embarrassment for the guests – the puck again flies somewhere into the clouds. It seems that Larionov gave the instruction to throw on horseback, because Nikolaev is not a dimensional goalkeeper, and therefore there are always open zones under the bar. But you still have to get there!

The second break, and on the scoreboard – zeros.

Still, experience in the playoffs is an irreplaceable thing. Guests continued to squander scoring chances. However, as soon as the 21-year-old defender Burenov suddenly fell in the corner of his zone and lost the puck, the St. Petersburgers immediately took three moves – more precisely, touches! – struck Kulbakov. The efforts of Grebenshchikov and Pedan were crowned with a click into the far corner by Prokhorkin. For the Olympic champion, this is the first goal of the season. Here it is – the SKA joker! Healed the injury for almost the entire championship, and in the Gagarin Cup-2023 he played only the second match.

The missed puck morally broke the youngsters of the Professor. They attacked more out of inertia. The hosts tightly closed their half of the ice, forcing the opponents to travel exclusively along the perimeter.

And yet the army did not tolerate. Two and a half minutes before the siren, they were carried away by the attack and missed Firstov. The most active forward of Torpedo performed an impromptu free throw not according to the stencil – he put the puck not on top, but on the bottom between Nikolaev’s shields!

Photo source: HC “Torpedo” (Nizhny Novgorod)

1:1 – the fourth consecutive overtime for Nizhny, and for St. Petersburg – the first in the playoffs in 2023. The last game of the regular season on January 30 ended in Ice in the same way.