Actually the shootouts are a much better test of the goalies, no one to block any shots! -
I'm just wondering if the 3 point system will make an iota of difference to who makes the playoffs.
3 points for an all out win, in regulation time, game over, but a tie, 5 or 10 minutes of 4 on 4, would be 2 points shared, and a win in overtime would be worth 2 points.
nothing for an overtime loss.
so a team is rewarded for winning the game in reg. time, which tells me that the stronger teams in that
particular year, will pull farther ahead, and some teams will get a point each after overtime, and lots
of teams will get nothing. i guess the shoot out allows more bottom type teams to grab a point easier.
not sure the league will buy into that because they 'want' to see more teams battling to get in the
playoffs, or able to pass by each other thru the season, and less teams be left out of 'everything'
early on.
fans will lose interest in their teams if they know early on that 'they' don't have a snowballs chance to
get into the playoffs.
that is 'key' for the league, putting people in the seats for the whole season, they don't care about what
we care about, so if they see that 'shoot outs' and 'fighting' keep people coming, that is there to stay.
there are some teams out of it early on now, and always will be, but 'more' teams battling with each other, with
a chance to catch 8th spot keeps the interest up, at
least thats the way i see it.