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NHL Flawed Points System

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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
So, I just checked out the standings in the NHL, and I can't help but notice the flawed overtime-loss-gets-a-point system that is in place. Here's an example:

In the Western Pacific Division, the LA Kings are 23-15 with 10 overtime losses (really a 23-25 LOSING record). They are sitting at 2nd in their division with 56 points and 7th in the conference (in playoff contention). Meanwhile, sitting at 3rd in the same division behind the Kings are the Dallas Stars sitting with a 24-20 and 2 overtime loss record (really a 24-22 WINNING record) which equates to 50 points, 6 points behind the Kings and out of playoff contention at where they stand now. How does a team with a winning record in the SAME division get seated behind the team with the losing record? Does anyone else find this system flawed? Granted, the Kings have played 2 more games, however, even if the Stars were to win the next 2 games they play, and the Kings don't play any in that time, they'd still be ahead by 2 points and an there would be even a bigger discrepancy in both of their records and who should really be ahead of who.

Furthermore, with this everyone-gets-a-point-after-the-third-period system is ridiculous. What's to stop teams from negotiating to stay tied through regulation and really play into overtime? That way, they'd both get a point and would be able to grab a point and play for the extra point in shootout and overtime. Although this scenario may seem far-fetched, it is very much able to be done with the current system.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this? I've played hockey (roller and ice) since I can remember, and the way the league is handling these wins and losses makes me not interested in following the sport at all really. Discuss?
Jan 21 2012 7:18PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
sparknotes: NHL points system is flawed. Teams should not be rewarded a point for losing in overtime or shootout.
Jan 21 2012 7:19PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
shouldn't whoever wins get a point, regardless of overtime?
Jan 21 2012 7:20PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
in a normal game, winners gain 2 points, teams who lose in regulation time get 0 points, but overtime or shootout losers gain 1 point in standings for some reason.
Jan 21 2012 7:22PM
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Forkstealer
Posts: 508 - Karma: 16
People care about hockey?
Jan 21 2012 7:26PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
well if that's the case than it makes a bit of sense. it's saying that even though team lost in overtime, they still played well enough to match the other team for the entirety of regulation. so they're being rewarded for still playing admirably
really every sport is fucked somehow but unless you have billions of dollars to invest into it, you're not going to be changing much
Jan 21 2012 7:32PM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061

it should be wins and losses. that's it. getting an extra point because you make it through regulation is retarded. in baseball, you could end up playing another full game in extra innings. you go to 18 innings, lose 5 hours later, and you get fuck all. in hockey you play a whopping 5 more minutes and get a shootout, and thats worthy of a point? winning is winning, losing is losing. in a league of 30 teams, every year like 3/4 of all teams have a record above .500. that just shouldn't happen.

Jan 21 2012 7:43PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
Truth right here.

Here's a scenario. Team A wins 1 game all season, with an end of season record of 1-0-81 (1 win, O losses , 81 overtime losses), totaling 83 points at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Team B has an end of season record of 41-41-0 (41 wins, 41 losses, 0 overtime losses). In the eyes of the NHL, Team A had a better season points wise, winning 1 game and losing 81 games and going 80 games under .500 than Team B who went a perfect .500 at 41-41. If the cutoff for the playoffs was 83 points, Team A would go, and Team B would stay home.

Yes, that's just a made up scenario, but the fact that that scenario is even possible is just ridiculous. The wrong teams are going to the playoffs under this system.
Jan 22 2012 2:15PM
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scratchproteen
Posts: 5173 - Karma: 286
I like it, both teams played hard for 3 periods and have to go to extra time, they each deserve one point...and if you win you get one more.
Jan 22 2012 2:49PM
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