Ryan O'Reilly Shocks Everybody With New Stat

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Aaron Itovitch
February 26, 2023 (10:37)

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Ryan O'Reilly may not wow on the scoresheet, but in other facets of the game, he is truly elite.

A new stat shows how much of a game-breaker he is.

O'Reilly Wows In the Faceoff Circle

Ryan O'Reilly is one of the best two-way players in the sport, and would probably be a lock as a Selke finalist every year if Patrice Bergeron weren't in the picture.

One of the most important elements of being a top two-way player is the ability to win faceoffs. While they are somewhat of an underrated stat, at the extremes, they are game-altering.

If a centre can only win 30% of their faceoffs, their team will have to chase possession more often. When a player is going 73.8%, it makes the team a whole lot better.

73.8% isn't just some random number, it is the incredible level O'Reilly has been playing at. Going 46-15 so far in his time as a Leaf, he has been truly incredible.

In four games with the #Leafs, Ryan O'Reilly is 45-16 (73.8%) in the faceoff circle. That's kinda big.

What This Means

Ryan O'Reilly's skill in the faceoff dot will only become more important once the playoffs hit. Against stronger competition, it is never good to have to chase play.

If he can keep this up, Ryan O'Reilly just might be the piece that carries the Leafs to a cup.

Source Maple Leafs Daily:
An insane Ryan O'Reilly stat after his first four games as a Leaf