good times don't last
- ob18

clearly i can't count. at least going month by month with the tsn calendars.
thought they had 6 SO wins. they're 4-5? and i added an OT win. Still 8 OT wins is a lot, imo.

didn't realize the flyers had 6 OT wins either. that seems like 2 or 3 too many by my memory, which obviously has gone to poop.
- hammarby31

I had to look at NHL.com...OT and the shootout are becoming more and more important, so your overall conclusions are right on the money.

Carolina is 0-6 in the gimmick and 3-9 in OT. 3-15 combined in extra time and 9 points out. If they go .500 in OT/SO, they're a playoff team right now

I had to look at NHL.com...OT and the shootout are becoming more and more important, so your overall conclusions are right on the money.

Carolina is 0-6 in the gimmick and 3-9 in OT. 3-15 combined in extra time and 9 points out. If they go .500 in OT/SO, they're a playoff team right now
- Jsaquella

amazing how much this seems to affect positioning. i'm in favor of going back to the old system - even giving up the OT/SO altogether and just having ties - or going to a full 3 point system if the SO remains, which it will.

amazing how much this seems to affect positioning. i'm in favor of going back to the old system - even giving up the OT/SO altogether and just having ties - or going to a full 3 point system if the SO remains, which it will.
- hammarby31

What irks me is seeing teams play for OT to get the point, like Washington the other night. I'd rather see a change to the format so that teams bust their asses trying to win the stinkin' game.

What irks me is seeing teams play for OT to get the point, like Washington the other night. I'd rather see a change to the format so that teams bust their asses trying to win the stinkin' game.
- tangent_man

agreed.

Regarding the shootouts, every hardcore hockey fan I know dislikes the shootout with a passion. It was instituted to try and appease the casual fan, as well as bring some excitement to the sport. I understand the premise, but I still don't like it.

The NHL desperately wanted to eliminate so many games ending in a tie, no other sports have games that end in ties. Perhaps one NFL game every two years or so.

My question is, can anyone think of a feasible way to eliminate ties, without the shootout format?

What irks me is seeing teams play for OT to get the point, like Washington the other night. I'd rather see a change to the format so that teams bust their asses trying to win the stinkin' game.
- tangent_man

The whole reason the NHL went to 3 point games was because teams would play conservatively in OT, knowing that they would lose the point gained if they lost in OT.

So the NHL decided that getting to OT guaranteed the point, and winning was an extra point. It wasn't until the shootout forced a winner in every game that 3 point games became a big issue, standings wise.

Regarding the shootouts, every hardcore hockey fan I know dislikes the shootout with a passion. It was instituted to try and appease the casual fan, as well as bring some excitement to the sport. I understand the premise, but I still don't like it.

The NHL desperately wanted to eliminate so many games ending in a tie, no other sports have games that end in ties. Perhaps one NFL game every two years or so.

My question is, can anyone think of a feasible way to eliminate ties, without the shootout format?
- PLindbergh31

4v4 for 10 mins then if no one scores
3v3 for 10 mins then if no one scores
shootout

3 points for a win in regulation...... 2 points for a win in overtime....1 point for a loss in overtime

just my thought

I don't know if any of you read the comments on csnphilly.com, and tbh idk why i do, but there were a few gems last night.

"Kubina brings nothing and is painfully slow"

"If Suter can be had for around the same price as Grossmann, we know who is gone"

And the best....

"Honestly I want to see Carle on the 3rd pairing with Gus. I have full faith that Gus can male up fpr Carle's mistakes. Afterall Gus is 2nd on the team in +/-."

I don't know whether i should laugh or cry about this.

Regarding the shootouts, every hardcore hockey fan I know dislikes the shootout with a passion. It was instituted to try and appease the casual fan, as well as bring some excitement to the sport. I understand the premise, but I still don't like it.

The NHL desperately wanted to eliminate so many games ending in a tie, no other sports have games that end in ties. Perhaps one NFL game every two years or so.

My question is, can anyone think of a feasible way to eliminate ties, without the shootout format?
- PLindbergh31

Without going to playoff style OT, there's no way to eliminate tie games totally.

However, I think that playing a 10 minute, 4 on 4 OT would limit ties. Further, eliminating points for anything less than a win would certainly have teams not sitting on the point earned, trying to milk a game to a shootout.

That's another unintended consequence of a shootout. Teams that are good in them will sit back in OT, playing to get to the gimmick, rather than trying to win by playing hockey.

"If Suter can be had for around the same price as Grossmann, we know who is gone"
- fecondo

4v4 for 10 mins then if no one scores
3v3 for 10 mins then if no one scores
shootout

3 points for a win in regulation...... 2 points for a win in overtime....1 point for a loss in overtime

just my thought
- Jack-Meoff

IMO playing a potential extra 20 minutes in a game will lead to more injuries, as well as create a disadvantage for teams playing back to backs.

I don't think there is a feasible way to axe the shootout, unless ties are going to be back in the equation.

I don't know if any of you read the comments on csnphilly.com, and tbh idk why i do, but there were a few gems last night.

"Kubina brings nothing and is painfully slow"

"If Suter can be had for around the same price as Grossmann, we know who is gone"

And the best....

"Honestly I want to see Carle on the 3rd pairing with Gus. I have full faith that Gus can male up fpr Carle's mistakes. Afterall Gus is 2nd on the team in +/-."

I don't know whether i should laugh or cry about this.

- fecondo

Just ignore it. Makes things easier when you don't realize how stupid the casual fan is.

Without going to playoff style OT, there's no way to eliminate tie games totally.

However, I think that playing a 10 minute, 4 on 4 OT would limit ties. Further, eliminating points for anything less than a win would certainly have teams not sitting on the point earned, trying to milk a game to a shootout.

That's another unintended consequence of a shootout. Teams that are good in them will sit back in OT, playing to get to the gimmick, rather than trying to win by playing hockey.
- Jsaquella

Yeah. 4 on 4 for 10 mins is about the best solution. I think teams would open up more knowing there was no shootout. There were tie games forever and it worked. I don't mind tie games, I think the thought was it left fans with an empty feeling that they went to a game, and there wasn't a decided winner. So be it, I'm in favor of a 4-4 for 10 mins, then the game being a tie. Unfortunately I don't think the shootout is going anywhere.

However, I think that playing a 10 minute, 4 on 4 OT would limit ties. Further, eliminating points for anything less than a win would certainly have teams not sitting on the point earned, trying to milk a game to a shootout.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. Great points.

Regarding the shootouts, every hardcore hockey fan I know dislikes the shootout with a passion. It was instituted to try and appease the casual fan, as well as bring some excitement to the sport. I understand the premise, but I still don't like it.

The NHL desperately wanted to eliminate so many games ending in a tie, no other sports have games that end in ties. Perhaps one NFL game every two years or so.

My question is, can anyone think of a feasible way to eliminate ties, without the shootout format?
- PLindbergh31

I don't hate the shootout. I hate it when the Flyers lose one. The shootout is here to stay. And it's here to stay for a reason. And that reason is the overwhelming number of fans like the shootout. Regardless of how you label those fans. And it adds excitement to the game.

Regarding the shootouts, every hardcore hockey fan I know dislikes the shootout with a passion. It was instituted to try and appease the casual fan, as well as bring some excitement to the sport. I understand the premise, but I still don't like it.

The NHL desperately wanted to eliminate so many games ending in a tie, no other sports have games that end in ties. Perhaps one NFL game every two years or so.

My question is, can anyone think of a feasible way to eliminate ties, without the shootout format?
- PLindbergh31

without hurting my brain, the only thing that comes to mind is maybe going to a 10 minute OT, 4 on 4. much more likely to get a goal with another 5 minutes. wouldn't happen every time though.

after 7 seasons of the shootout, i've come to the conclusion i'd rather go back to ties, with a 5 minute OT at 5 on 5. no loser points.

Yeah. 4 on 4 for 10 mins is about the best solution. I think teams would open up more knowing there was no shootout. There were tie games forever and it worked. I don't mind tie games, I think the thought was it left fans with an empty feeling that they went to a game, and there wasn't a decided winner. So be it, I'm in favor of a 4-4 for 10 mins, then the game being a tie. Unfortunately I don't think the shootout is going anywhere.
- PLindbergh31

I'd be amazed and happy if the shootout died, but it won't.

The key for me would be to mitigate it's meaning. Shift to a 3-2-1 system. 3 points for a regulation win. 2 for an OT win and 1 for a shootout win.

I don't know if any of you read the comments on csnphilly.com, and tbh idk why i do, but there were a few gems last night.

"Kubina brings nothing and is painfully slow"

"If Suter can be had for around the same price as Grossmann, we know who is gone"

And the best....

"Honestly I want to see Carle on the 3rd pairing with Gus. I have full faith that Gus can male up fpr Carle's mistakes. Afterall Gus is 2nd on the team in +/-."

I don't know whether i should laugh or cry about this.

- fecondo

both.

I don't hate the shootout. I hate it when the Flyers lose one. The shootout is here to stay. And it's here to stay for a reason. And that reason is the overwhelming number of fans like the shootout. Regardless of how you label those fans. And it adds excitement to the game.
- MJL

The problem I have is, it decides the game without playing the game. To me, regardless of it's excitement level or anything else, you're choosing a winner and loser based on something other than playing the sport.

If I want to watch shootouts, I'll go on youtube and find old episodes of NHL Showdown.

I'd be amazed and happy if the shootout died, but it won't.

The key for me would be to mitigate it's meaning. Shift to a 3-2-1 system. 3 points for a regulation win. 2 for an OT win and 1 for a shootout win.
- Jsaquella

That makes sense too. I don't like the shootout, but the current point system is even worse. I hate when teams are awarded a point for losing the game.

If a team loses in OT, they should get zero points, I can see a team being awarded a point for losing a shootout, because in that scenario, they didn't actually lose a game.

without hurting my brain, the only thing that comes to mind is maybe going to a 10 minute OT, 4 on 4. much more likely to get a goal with another 5 minutes. wouldn't happen every time though.

after 7 seasons of the shootout, i've come to the conclusion i'd rather go back to ties, with a 5 minute OT at 5 on 5. no loser points.
- hammarby31

That makes sense too. I don't like the shootout, but the current point system is even worse. I hate when teams are awarded a point for losing the game.

If a team loses in OT, they should get zero points, I can see a team being awarded a point for losing a shootout, because in that scenario, they didn't actually lose a game.
- PLindbergh31

That's my other issue. When you win a shootout, you didn't win a hockey game. You won a skills competition that takes 99% of the sport out of the equation

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 3/25/12
- bmeltzer

Really enjoyed talking hockey with you, Bill!

The problem I have is, it decides the game without playing the game. To me, regardless of it's excitement level or anything else, you're choosing a winner and loser based on something other than playing the sport.

If I want to watch shootouts, I'll go on youtube and find old episodes of NHL Showdown.
- Jsaquella

There isn't ever going to be anything other then to keep playing OT 5 on 5 until someone scores a goal, that won't have any negatives to it. For obvious reasons that just can't happen over an 82 game Season. Does anyone turn off the game and not watch when it goes to a shootout? I watch with excitement. Seeing moves like the one Giroux made recently is exciting.