Possession. Possession. Possession.

You can't win hockey games if you don't have the puck, and control of the puck starts in the faceoff circle.

With games being so close these days, players realize they have to be better in the circle in order to gain control of the puck, especially if their team is clinging to a one-goal lead late in the third period.

"It's very important to get control of the puck, as you know nowadays in the NHL one goal is a huge difference in the outcome of a hockey game," Tampa Bay Lightning center Tim Taylor said. "Faceoffs, I think, are becoming more and more important in getting your team control right of the bat. Especially with these new sticks, you can't give a guy a good opportunity in the slot off a faceoff or it's going to be in the net.

There's tremendous importance on getting control of the puck right off the draw in hockey games these days with all the one-goal games there are in the League.

"There may be 40 seconds left in the game and you're up a goal and, like I said, things are so tight now in the NHL in each conference that two points is huge and when it comes down to playoff time, it could mean the difference between your team making the playoffs in the year or not making the playoffs."

So faceoffs are one facet of the game that shouldn't be taken lightly.

"I see a lot of players, whether it's the minor leagues or NHL, who are naturally gifted offensively, but they kind of think the faceoffs are just a formality. Kind of 'drop the puck and lets go and if I lose I'll get the puck back.' But it's not the case," Taylor said. "Players have to understand that if you want to be that centerman who's out there during the times in a game when the game is on the line and you're not very good on your faceoffs, you're not going to be the guy that's going to be out there."

"They're huge," said San Jose's Wayne Primeau said. "When you win faceoffs that's puck possession and the more faceoffs you win the more you'll be able to control the puck and the game. Obviously the offensive faceoffs, if you win those you're going to get the opportunity to maybe get some shots from the point and maybe pick up some rebounds or maybe get some deflections and some screens going and create more scoring chances.

Ever since the League adopted the new hurry-up rule on faceoffs (Rule 54) and line changes (Rule 17) at the beginning of last season, players and coaches have to be on the same page because every second counts.

"Whether it's in the offensive zone to create scoring chances or in the defensive zone to keep the puck away from them so they don't get their scoring chances. Nowadays it's very important to get the upper hand in the faceoff circle in order to give your team a chance to win, whether you're trying to create a scoring chance or prevent one."

Players realize that each faceoff is one of the important battles that have to be won throughout the course of an NHL game. The forwards have to be on top of their game every time they put their stick down. So, whether you're a seasoned veteran like Damphousse or an 18-year old pivot like Florida's Nathan Horton, you're expected to get your team possession every time you line up to take a draw.

"As a rookie you can't think about who you're up against," Horton said. "Obviously all these guys are going to be way more experienced than us, but we still have to get in there and fight for the puck and hopefully win the battle. Faceoffs are key because when you win them you gain possession of the puck for your team, which is always important no matter where you are on the ice."

Life has recently changed for NHL forwards. Now more than ever, players have to be quick on the draw. If they're not, the linesmen are going to start without them.

Ever since the League adopted the new hurry-up rule on faceoffs (Rule 54) and line changes (Rule 17) at the beginning of last season, players and coaches have to be on the same page because every second counts.

Players realize that each draw is one of the important battles that have to be won throughout the course of an NHL game.

After a whistle, players must either regroup quickly and get to the faceoff dot or hustle to the bench for a change. The coaches must also have their heads in the game during these stoppages so they can have the right guys on the ice at the right times.

With the new line change rule, visiting teams only have five seconds to get their players on the ice, while the home team gets eight. Then according to Rule 54, "as soon as the line change procedure has been completed by the referee and he lowers his hand to indicate no further changes, the linesman conducting the faceoff shall blow his whistle. This will signal to both teams that they have no more than five seconds to line up for the ensuing faceoff. At the end of the five seconds (or sooner if both centers are ready), the linesman will conduct a proper faceoff. If a center is not at the designated faceoff area once the five-second time limit has elapsed, the linesman will drop the puck immediately."

And the tardy are left swatting at air.

"I think it's been better for the game," Taylor said. "You don't have players go out there dictating where they're going to go with the draw, getting the alignment set up. In my own eyes, I believe the rule has probably quickened the game up 15-20 minutes. The coaches have to pay more attention to it and put the players they want out there right away.

"Last year it was more of a big deal when it was first brought in, but now this year every one is used to it," Taylor continued. "They know they have to get out there and get ready for the draw. The referees were forced to drop the puck out there when players weren't ready, but I don't think you see that too much this year. As long as everyone knows the rule and gets used to it, I think it's a lot better for the game."

Life has recently changed for NHL forwards. Now more than ever, players have to be quick on the draw. If they're not, the linesmen are going to start without them.

While Taylor says the rule has changed the game for the better, 18-year veteran Vincent Damphousse believes that the new faceoff rule hasn't changed the game itself, just the player's preparation.

"The rule hasn't changed the game at all," Damphousse insists. "I think it just prepares the guys before you get out there. You can't start talking like you used to. That's why they changed it. There was too much talking and guys were kind of making it like football. They would huddle a little bit and talk about it and they didn't want that any more, so you have to know the set plays before you actually get out there. It doesn't change anything, it just makes you prepare before you get out there."

Primeau agreed with his San Jose teammate.

"I don't think the rule changed the game itself," Primeau said. "If anything, the lines that they put where you can't turn and you have to be kind of straight now makes it that not that many guys can cheat on the faceoffs like they used to. The hurry-up rule I don't think changed the game. Most of the time now, guys are getting in there pretty quickly and most guys go in there set, knowing what their responsibilities are."

For a complete explanation on faceoffs go to the NHL Rule book on NHL.com.