Despite skating to a minus-3 in a 5-2 Game 1 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Staal went 9-for-10 in the faceoff dot. It was his first playoff game with the Rangers.

Despite skating to a minus-3 in a 5-2 Game 1 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Staal went 9-for-10 in the faceoff dot. It was his first playoff game with the Rangers.

Analysis:

While there won't be many fantasy playoff formats out there that count faceoffs, the fact that the eldest Staal was so proficient at the dot bodes well for his chances to move up the Rangers' depth chart. Currently, he's out of the top six and top power-play unit, but if the former Hurricane -- who happens to have 43 points in 44 career playoff games -- continues to dominate on draws, look for him to be rewarded by head coach Alain Vigneault with a more favorable lineup assignment. For comparison's sake, fellow centers Derek Stepan went 9-for-20 and Derick Brassard won seven of 15 in the contest.