Faceoffs: Phillip Danault has never been better than since his return to Montreal.

Félix Forget
Faceoffs: Phillip Danault has never been better than since his return to Montreal.
Credit: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 23: Phillip Danault #24 of the Montréal Canadiens warms up before a game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on December 23, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Reuben Polansky-Shapiro/NHLI via Getty Images)

Phillip Danault, as we know, has always been excellent at the face-off circle. He was during his first stint in Montreal, and he was also during his years in Los Angeles.

He has never finished a season with a face-off efficiency rate below 50%.

And when the Habs brought him back before Christmas, it was specifically to get a left-handed center who could win faceoffs. The club hasn't been able to replace Christian Dvorak in that regard, but Danault's return has really helped.

In fact, since his return to Montreal, Danault has won 58.3% of his faceoffs, a very, very high success rate.

And that, in fact, is a career high for him.

(Credit: Screenshot/FOX Sports)

But beyond comparing him only to his career marks, it's also interesting to compare Danault to the rest of the NHL this season among guys who play center regularly.

And again, his success rate since returning to the Habs is truly impressive: it puts him tied with Lars Eller for 13th place in the entire league.

He even ranks ahead of his former teammate Anze Kopitar, who is not exactly a pushover when it comes to winning faceoffs.

(Credit: Screenshot/StatMuse)

Danault arrived in Montreal to fill a specific role: to be the center Martin St-Louis can count on to win big faceoffs. And so far, the Quebec native has been doing a great job in that role.

And with three goals and nine points in 21 games, he's also bringing a bit of offense that doesn't hurt. While he's not an Art Ross candidate, those are still encouraging numbers for a guy who had only five points in 30 games in Los Angeles… and who is constantly used in defensive assignments.


In brief

– Canada is in a good position to secure the top seed (and avoid facing Sweden in the quarterfinals).

— A seventh consecutive victory for the Rocket.

— One to watch.

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