Cullen Has Become Quicker on the Draw

That Mighty Duck center Matt Cullen needed to improve on faceoffs was evident. He won only 48% last season and has never been above 50% with the Ducks.

Until now.

Cullen is at 53%, second on the team to Steve Rucchin (55%). It ranks him a respectable 30th among NHL players who had taken at least 100 faceoffs before Monday’s games.

There was never any question Cullen could skate and he was always a slick passer. But he has improved rapidly in faceoffs, winning 32 of 48 draws (67%) in the last three games.

“That has always been one of my weaknesses,” Cullen said. “It’s one of the most important things a center does. If you don’t win a faceoff, you have to chase the other team around trying to get the puck back. I guess it took me four or five years.”

Cullen bulked up during the summer to add more strength. He also worked out with his brothers, perfecting his timing.

“This is my first year with Matt, but I think he is better than he was credited for,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “Maybe he is growing up.”

A little extra tutoring has helped. Assistant coach Tom Watt has worked with the team’s centers after practice each day for more than a week. The Ducks have three centers over 50%--Rucchin, Cullen and Samuel Pahlsson (51%).

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The skills that right wing Dan Bylsma brings to a team aren’t evident in a training camp situation. He kills penalties, mucks and grinds and is a vocal leader, despite having no points this season.

“I was told he was desperate to stay in the lineup,” Murray said. “Maybe we need 19 guys being that desperate and playing that hard.”