For the most part, the numbers don't lie.

The players whose names appear at the top of the NHL faceoff statistics are the best.

THE TOP FIVE

Like it is for hitters in baseball, one faceoff out of 10 can be the difference between having great numbers and good numbers. After consulting with coaches and centers, here are their top five faceoff men, the guys you want in the circle when it counts: 1. Yanic Perreault, Montreal: 373-219 (63.01 percent) this season ... Quick hands are his strength ... Been at the top of his game for the last few years ... Usually wins with quick stick, but can use his body, too. 2. Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina: 510-389 (56.73 percent) this season ... Along with Daymond Langkow of Phoenix and Mike Modano of Dallas, is a workhorse, having taken more than 800 draws for his club ... Opponents impressed with his ability to win draws on both his forehand and his backhand. Probably the best in the league from both sides ... Good upper body strength ... Leads the league in short-handed faceoffs won. 3. Joe Nieuwendyk, New Jersey: 312-217 (58-98 percent) this season ... Veteran competitor is lanky and uses that leverage. 4. Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay: 226-137 (62.75 percent) this season ... Another big guy who can get down low. With that height, he leans over the circle, making it tough to get to the puck ... Along with Perreault, the only other player this season over the 60-percent mark. 5. Craig Conroy, Calgary: 346-246 (58.45 percent) this season ... One of the best around at winning power-play faceoffs with a 71.8 percent success rate. Also considered: Mike Modano, Dallas ... Chris Gratton, Buffalo ... Mats Sundin, Toronto ... Joe Sakic, Colorado ... Mike Sillinger, Columbus ... Todd Marchant, Edmonton. -- Chris Stevenson

But on any given night, most players can only come away from a game shaking their heads over the statistics on the game sheet.

The NHL faceoff stats are a source of agitation for players who take great pride in a subtle part of the game.

"My sense is the people who do those stats often don't fully understand the game," said Senators assistant coach Perry Pearn. "There are situations where it's pretty clear cut a player wins a faceoff but is charged with a loss."

The one situation that hurts a player's numbers, but helps his team, is when he decides to go forward with the puck. That often happens in a short-handed situation just inside the short-handed team's blue line. The center will deliberately attempt to win the draw forward, getting the puck out of his zone and down the ice, but since the opposition will get possession first, it is charged as a loss.

Another instance where a player can have a win, but wind up with a loss, is when his teammates fail to react. That happens when a center wins a puck back, but an opposition player gets to the puck first.

A center for every situation
Another area where the stats might not tell the whole story is in the case where teams stack the odds in their favor.

In Carolina, the Hurricanes have often placed themselves in situations where veteran Ron Francis is on a line with Jeff O'Neill. Both are natural centers, but O'Neill plays on the wing. Francis is a left shot and O'Neill a right shot.

For faceoffs on the left side of the rink, Francis will take the draws, since that places him on what is viewed as the strongest situation for a left-handed shot. Drawing the puck back is a player's strongest option. A right-handed shot in that situation is drawing the puck into the middle of the ice where more teams stack their defensive players and there is less chance of maintaining possession.

For faceoffs on the right side of the rink, O'Neill will often step in and take the draw. That improves both their odds of winning and the 'Canes chances of getting possession of the puck.

It also means both Francis' and O'Neill's stats could get a boost since they aren't exposed on what is considered their weaker side.

Another team that improves their odds in the same way is the Chicago Blackhawks with Steve Sullivan (who shoots right) and Alexei Zhamnov (who shoots left).

	Daniel: No. 22

	Henrik: No. 33

Double trouble
The Vancouver Canucks had the best way of making sure their center wouldn't get kicked out of a faceoff.

One NHL linesman swears this story is true.

Two years ago, the Sedin twins played on the same line. Henrik is the center of the duo. Daniel plays on the wing.

Before the fast faceoff was introduced, a center would often get tossed out of the circle and would sometimes skate over and share a tip or two with the player going into the circle to take his place.

Henrik would skate over to talk to Daniel, and the two would slowly turn around together while speaking, but instead of Daniel going in to take the draw, Henrik would return.

Apparently it worked a couple of times before a sharp-eyed linesman in Boston caught their little bit of deception. From then on, the linesmen checked the number on the back of the player's sweater and not his face.

Chris Stevenson covers the NHL for the Ottawa Sun and is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com.