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Steve Ott is now 10th in the league in faceoffs, go look at NHL.com

Steve Ott

Dallas Stars’ Steve Ott watches from the bench during the shootout in an NHL hockey game against the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Stars 2-1 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

AP

Last night, PHT’s James O’Brien did a solid job recapping the 10 most memorable phrases from episode three of HBO 24/7.

But even with that post in the bag, we still felt compelled to highlight this exchange between Dallas’ Steve Ott and Philly’s Claude Giroux.

[WARNING: Salty language ahoy, matey]

Three things...

1) At one point, Ott might’ve been fifth in faceoffs (he’s currently 10th, winning draws at a 55.7 percent clip) -- but that Philly game didn’t help his cause any. Ott had trouble against the Flyers’ French-Canadian forwards, going a combined 4-11 against Giroux, Maxime Talbot and Danny Briere.

2) I can see guys bragging about how many goals they’ve scored or how they’re leading the league in points. But faceoffs? And how you’re fifth in the league in faceoffs? I didn’t know that was an acceptable chirp, but am glad it is. It totally opens the door of possibilities for other players, like Travis Hamonic (“Fifth in the league in blocked shots buddy, look it up”) and Alex Burrows (“Fifth in the league in plus-minus on the road buddy, look it up”).

3) Ott’s Babe Ruthian calling of his own shot (pointing to the corner, saying “I’m probably going to win it right there”) was priceless. Not because he lost the draw and Dallas got scored on. It’s priceless because he was calling his shot eight minutes into the first period of a December game against a non-conference opponent.

If Hollywood has taught us anything about sports, it’s that you only call your shot in the biggest moment on the biggest stage imaginable. Like Jake Taylor in Major League or Billy Hoyle in White Men Can’t Jump. Ott’s seemed a little...anticlimactic.