Most face-offs taken, NHL game

The National Hockey League (NHL) record for most face-offs taken in a game is 42, accomplished first by Rod Brind’Amour (Canada) while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes (USA) on 1 January 2006 and equaled by Ryan O’Reilly (Canada) of the Buffalo Sabres (USA) on 13 February 2018. The NHL officially began tracking statistics for face-offs during the 2005-06 season. Face-offs are used to begin and restart play: a referee or linesman will drop the puck at the appropriate face-off spot (or centre spot following a goal or start of a new period), with each team fielding a chosen player to attempt to win possession.