I've been watching Hockey for a long while now, and I know about 98% of the rules, but could someone explain to me why players get kicked out of faceoffs? I could never pick up on why that happens.

Basically, they get kicked out for things like moving their stick before the puck is dropped and stuff like that. The visiting team's stick must be on the ice/face off dot first. Then the home team face off man can see whether the other centerman is trying to pull it backhand or forehand, etc. The home guy puts his stick down and they drop the puck. Guys get kicked out if they break this chain of events. Like I said, if either player jostles before the puck is dropped, the visitor lifts his stick back up, whatever. You also aren't supposed to move your skates past the lines in the face off circle until it's dropped either (there are little "L" shaped lines). That is probably another way to get thrown out.

In key situations (last few seconds in a close game), teams have two centerman out there in case of these things happening.

Hope that helps.

also if any other player enters or encroaches on the circle before the puck is dropped as well as if a team is late making a change or getting his stick down he is thrown out

I think there's a violation when a player urinates on the circle before, during, or after the drop of the puck.

No...wait. That's Moises Alou.

Sorry. Wrong sport.

Pittsburgh. Yes, the Penguins are likely to have Russian super-prospect Evgeni Malkin in the lineup next year, and they'll also have wither Phil Kessel or Erik Johnson from the 2006 draft.

Can somebody explain this to me?

They can't possibly have 3 top picks in a row, can they?