3 Point Games Standings

[kvladimir]

I’ve still not heard a good reason that we can’t just go to W/L.

The points system exists because of ties. We haven’t had ties for close to 20 years.

Win/loss system standings (with OT + SO):

ATL:

1. FLA - 41-27
2. TOR - 40-27
3. TBL - 39-28
4. OTT - 36-30
5. MTL - 32-34
6. DET - 32-37
7. BOS - 30-39
8. BUF - 27-39

MTR:

1. WSH - 44-23
2. CAR - 41-26
3. NJD - 37-32
4. NYR - 33-35
5. CBJ - 31-36
6. NYI - 30-36
7. PIT - 28-41
8. PHI - 28-41

CTL:

1. WPG - 47-21
2. DAL - 42-24
3. COL - 41-27
4. MIN - 38-30
5. STL - 33-35
6. UTH - 30-37
7. NSH - 25-41
8. CHI - 20-47

PAC:

1. VGK - 39-28*
2. EDM - 39-28*
3. LAK - 36-30
4. VAN - 31-36
5. CGY - 30-36
6. SEA - 29-37
7. ANA - 29-38
8. SJS - 18-50

*Regulation wins would presumably be the first tiebreaker, to emphasize competitive finishes even more

So, in this system, still not a lot that changes, there's just way less benefit from OT/SO losses, and because of this, SEA and ANA are in the race still... interesting.

One big flaw in the idea that the incentives of this system, or the 3-2-1-0 system where regulation wins award 3 points, is that we assume there would be less boring defensive hockey late in regulation, but that would only be true if the game is tied.

If a team is up, especially by one goal, late in regulation, when they stand to both gain a point and avoid losing one, you better believe they would be playing defensive-shell type hockey. The only real difference is that only one team would be, not both. I do agree that either of these systems would be better than what we have...

 

[tarheelhockey]

I understand your point, but now we are saying only winning matters and not the manner of the “win”. Instead of a shootout, what if we just flipped a coin - should that be the same as a regulation win?

Well, you’re comfortable flipping a coin for 50% of the value of an OT win, are you not?

I’m just saying that if you’re comfortable with that, it’s an equal-sized step to 100%.

If the manner of win doesnt matter, why not use reg season OT and shootout rules in the playoffs?

OT and shootout were created to induce a winner quickly. There is a practical limit to how long a game can go on in the regular season… that limit does not exist in the playoffs.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I truly don't care if it makes a difference or not. I'm just philosophically against the idea that beating a team in 3v3 or a SO should be equal to a beating a team 5v5 in 60 minutes. Those are not equal achievements.

 

[joepeps]

So for a few seasons now I've been thinking it's unfair that a game ending in regulation hands out 2 points (to the winner) and a game ending in OT/SO hands out 3 points (2 to the winner; 1 to the loser). So this season I've been running my own point systems to see how it lines up with the official point system. Here are the standings so far (through 3/17/25).

System A (No SO) (Any SO wins or losses are counted as a tie)
Regulation Win = 3 point
OT Win = 2 points
Tie = 1.5 points
OT Loss = 1 point
Regulation Loss = 0 points

[Team - Points]
East
Panthers - 118
Lightning - 117.5
Maple Leafs - 115

Capitals - 134
Hurricanes - 123
Devils - 113

Senators - 104.5
Rangers - 101.5
Canadiens - 94
Red Wings - 92.5
Bruins - 92.5
Islanders - 91.5
Blue Jackets - 91.5
Penguins - 87
Sabres - 80
Flyers - 80

West
Jets - 136
Stars - 121.5
Avalanche - 120.5

Golden Knights - 123
Kings - 113
Oilers - 110.5

Wild - 110.5
Canucks - 96.5
Blues - 95.5
Flames - 94.5
Utah - 94
Kraken - 87
Ducks - 85.5
Predators - 78.5
Blackhawks - 66.5
Sharks - 59.5


System B (With SO) (SO Win = OT Win; SO Loss = OT Loss)
Regulation Win = 3 points
OT Win = 2 points
OT Loss = 1 point
Regulation Loss = 0 points

[Team - Points]
East
Panthers - 120
Lightning - 117
Maple Leafs - 115

Capitals - 133
Hurricanes - 122
Devils - 113

Senators - 104
Rangers - 102
Canadiens - 94
Red Wings - 94
Blue Jackets - 93
Islanders - 92
Bruins - 92
Penguins - 85
Sabres - 81
Flyers - 81

West
Jets - 136
Stars - 122
Avalanche - 120

Golden Knights - 122
Kings - 112
Oilers - 110

Wild - 111
Canucks - 97
Blues - 97
Flames - 95
Utah - 93
Ducks - 86
Kraken - 86
Predators - 79
Blackhawks - 66
Sharks - 58

I'm actually surprised how little difference there is in the standings. I'm going to keep this going to the end of the season.

you can't say that because teams would play differently if there was 3 points for a reg win... right now, teams are holding off and securing the 1 point and fighting for the free point... if the rules changed, that would change their mentality.

 

[tarheelhockey]

One big flaw in the idea that the incentives of this system, or the 3-2-1-0 system where regulation wins award 3 points, is that we assume there would be less boring defensive hockey late in regulation, but that would only be true if the game is tied.

If a team is up, especially by one goal, late in regulation, when they stand to both gain a point and avoid losing one, you better believe they would be playing defensive-shell type hockey. The only real difference is that only one team would be, not both. I do agree that either of these systems would be better than what we have...

I don’t think the point system has any impact on how teams behave when they’re up a goal late. I would truly be shocked if even the most analytically inclined coaches were dialing up strategies based on the idea that they could blow the lead and then lose in OT but still get a point.

 

[Cartryn]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

I’m also surprised it didn’t change that much.

Another option would be :

System C (With SO)
Regulation Win = 3 points
OT Win = 2 points
SO Win = 1 point
Loss (regulation, OT, or SO) = 0 points

Would do away with teams playing patty cake in the last 10 minutes of a tie game to secure one point.

East
Panthers - 113
Lightning - 111
Maple Leafs - 111

Capitals - 124
Hurricanes - 118
Devils - 106

Senators - 98
Rangers - 95
Canadiens - 85
Red Wings - 85
Bruins - 83
Islanders - 82
Blue Jackets - 81
Penguins - 74
Sabres - 72
Flyers - 68

West
Jets - 131
Stars - 117
Avalanche - 116

Golden Knights - 113
Oilers - 106
Kings - 102

Wild - 103
Blues - 86
Canucks - 84
Flames - 81
Utah - 81
Kraken - 80
Ducks - 76
Predators - 70
Blackhawks - 56
Sharks - 48

 

[bov]

I don't think losses after regulation should count for anything. I'm fine with OT wins earning their usual 2 points, but a shootout win should be reduced to 1.5 or 1.

Two terrible teams could play like shit against each other for 60 minutes and somehow both get rewarded with a point? Makes no sense. Only a real victory should be rewarded, whether it takes some extra time or not. The shootout is a disgrace to the game but sadly it's not going anywhere, and it shouldn't be valued the same as winning a game by actually playing hockey.

 

[Ulysses31]

best option) 3p reg win, 2p otw, 1p otl

other option) 60mins-> 3on3-> shootout winner takes all