5-4-3-2-1

jcaz

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Jun 8, 2009
383
There's the obvious flaw in the NHL system of having two point and three point games.  Many people around the web are advocating for a three point system - here's an article from December that recalculated the NHL standings if games were scored 3 pts for regulation win, 2 pts for OT or SO win, and 1pt for OT/SO loss.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-alternative-standings-2013-14-regulation-wins-counted-214041821--nhl.html
 
I think there's obvious logic to rewarding wins in regulation over OT/SO wins.  I also think that since the NHL is concerned about the number of shootouts then why not change the point systems so that OT wins are worth more than SO wins?  My proposal is:
Reg win: 5pts
OT win: 4pts
SO win: 3pts
SO loss: 2 pts
OT loss: 1 pt
 
Imagine the fun that could be had with former players turned analysts trying to explain playoff outcomes going into the last night of the season under this scenario?  More seriously, I realize the complexity of having all these potential outcomes may be too much for the casual fan, but it would make this time of year be pretty cool as some teams pulled the goalie at the in the last minute of OT to get 4 points instead of 3.  I wonder if that would ever happen or would the risk of 2 guaranteed points in a SO loss keep any coach from making that decision. 
 
For discussion's sake, here are the standing for today - prior to the Flyers beating the Penguins.  Note the NHL rank is on total points; the 3 pt and 5 pt ranks are points per game.  The real losers moving away from the NHL's scheme are those teams that have been very good (lucky?) in OT - like the Leafs. 
 
Thoughts?
 
  [tablegrid= NHL standings as of 3/16/2014 ] GP  Reg wins OT wins S.O. wins S.O. loss OT Loss NHL rank 5 pt rank 3 pt rank   St. Louis 67 35 3 8 3 4 1 3 1   Anaheim 68 38 5 2 6 1 2 1 3   Boston 67 39 4 2 3 2 3 2 1   San Jose 68 30 4 10 5 2 3 6 5   Pittsburgh 66 36 3 5 2 2 5 4 4   Colorado 67 32 8 3 3 2 6 5 6   Chicago 67 33 0 5 8 6 7 7 6   Los Angeles 68 28 4 6 4 2 8 8 8   Minnesota 67 26 2 7 7 3 9 10 9   Toronto 68 23 4 9 4 4 9 16 16   Tampa Bay 67 25 5 6 5 2 11 11 13 Montreal 68 25 6 5 3 4 11 14 15   Columbus 67 29 1 5 2 4 13 13 12   NY Rangers 68 31 1 4 2 2 13 12 11   Philadelphia 66 29 2 3 5 2 15 9 10   Dallas 66 27 2 3 5 6 15 15 14   Phoenix 68 24 3 5 5 6 15 17 17   Detroit 66 22 3 5 8 5 18 18 18   Washington 68 19 4 8 7 3 19 23 23   New Jersey 68 21 8 0 8 5 20 19 22   Vancouver 69 20 6 4 7 3 21 24 25   Ottawa 66 22 3 3 6 7 22 21 19   Winnipeg 68 20 4 6 6 3 22 25 24   Nashville 68 25 3 1 7 3 24 20 20   Carolina 67 24 4 1 3 6 25 22 21   Calgary 68 15 7 5 3 4 26 26 27   NY Islanders 69 16 4 6 4 5 26 27 28   Florida 67 18 0 7 5 2 28 28 26   Edmonton 68 16 4 3 3 6 29 29 29   Buffalo 67 10 3 6 4 4 30 30 30   [/tablegrid]
 
 
 
Mar 1, 2009
557
Cellar-Door said:
Or bring back ties.
Getting points for losing is stupid.
And/or change OT structure to reduce the amount of games that result in a shoot out. I'd like to see them play 5 minutes of 4 on 4 followed by 5 minutes of 3 on 3 and then 2 on 2 if necessary.
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
5,117
The Flyers would be 3rd in the east, I say do it. Now.
 
I like the 5 point system because I like minimizing shootouts. It also builds in some more variance so you're less likely to need tiebreakers at season's end. And I like that it rewards you for winning in regulation vs. OT vs. SO; I really hate the extra point.
 

MiracleOfO2704

not AWOL
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Jul 12, 2005
9,528
The Island
MoGator71 said:
The Flyers would be 3rd in the east, I say do it. Now.
 
I like the 5 point system because I like minimizing shootouts. It also builds in some more variance so you're less likely to need tiebreakers at season's end. And I like that it rewards you for winning in regulation vs. OT vs. SO; I really hate the extra point.
 
Except that, with the divisional playoff set-up, the Flyers are in the exact same place as they would be in a 5-point system: 2nd in the division to Pittsburgh.
 
The one thing I'd like to see on that table are the actual point values associated with a 5-point and 3-point system, because without them, the ranks make it look like the current system gets it right, since the only big winner going from the current to the 5-point system is Philadelphia.
 

MoGator71

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Jul 15, 2005
5,117
MiracleOfO2704 said:
 
Except that, with the divisional playoff set-up, the Flyers are in the exact same place as they would be in a 5-point system: 2nd in the division to Pittsburgh.
 
The one thing I'd like to see on that table are the actual point values associated with a 5-point and 3-point system, because without them, the ranks make it look like the current system gets it right, since the only big winner going from the current to the 5-point system is Philadelphia.
 
Well now they are, since they just hopped the Rags and Jackets.
 
It would help to see the points, but generally speaking teams with a high ROW number are going to be helped by this. Conversely teams that do a lot of business in the shootout get hurt. Right now that looks like Toronto. 
 

jcaz

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 8, 2009
383
Here's the table with total points earned.  Note that in the five point system, the Bs would have a 12 point lead on Pittsburgh! Also note that spots 9 through 16 would be incredibly tight making for a lot of strategy and potentially excitement in the final week of the seasons.
 
 
[tablegrid= Updated table with points earned ] GP  5-4-3-2-1 ppg Rank NHL PTS ppg Rank 3-2-1 ppg Rank   St. Louis 67 221 3.30 3 99 1.48 1 134.00 2.00 1   Anaheim 68 229 3.37 1 97 1.43 2 135.00 1.99 3   Boston 67 225 3.36 2 95 1.42 3 134.00 2.00 1   San Jose 68 208 3.06 6 95 1.40 4 125.00 1.84 5   Pittsburgh 66 213 3.23 4 92 1.39 5 128.00 1.94 4   Colorado 67 209 3.12 5 91 1.36 6 123.00 1.84 6   Chicago 67 202 3.01 7 90 1.34 7 123.00 1.84 6   Los Angeles 68 184 2.71 8 82 1.21 8 110.00 1.62 8   Minnesota 67 176 2.63 10 80 1.19 9 106.00 1.58 9   Toronto 68 170 2.50 16 80 1.18 11 103.00 1.51 16   Tampa Bay 67 175 2.61 11 79 1.18 10 104.00 1.55 13 Montreal 68 174 2.56 14 79 1.16 12 104.00 1.53 15   Columbus 67 172 2.57 13 76 1.13 15 105.00 1.57 12   NY Rangers 68 177 2.60 12 76 1.12 16 107.00 1.57 11   Philadelphia 66 174 2.64 9 75 1.14 13 104.00 1.58 10   Dallas 66 168 2.55 15 75 1.14 13 102.00 1.55 14   Phoenix 68 163 2.40 17 75 1.10 18 99.00 1.46 17   Detroit 66 158 2.39 18 73 1.11 17 95.00 1.44 18   Washington 68 152 2.24 23 72 1.06 19 91.00 1.34 23   New Jersey 68 158 2.32 19 71 1.04 21 92.00 1.35 22   Vancouver 69 153 2.22 24 70 1.01 23 90.00 1.30 25   Ottawa 66 150 2.27 21 69 1.05 20 91.00 1.38 19   Winnipeg 68 149 2.19 25 69 1.01 22 89.00 1.31 24   Nashville 68 157 2.31 20 68 1.00 24 93.00 1.37 20   Carolina 67 151 2.25 22 67 1.00 24 91.00 1.36 21   Calgary 68 128 1.88 26 61 0.90 26 76.00 1.12 27   NY Islanders 69 127 1.84 27 61 0.88 27 77.00 1.12 28   Florida 67 123 1.84 28 57 0.85 28 75.00 1.12 26   Edmonton 68 117 1.72 29 55 0.81 29 71.00 1.04 29   Buffalo 67 92 1.37 30 46 0.69 30 56.00 0.84 30 [/tablegrid]
 

IdiotKicker

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Nov 21, 2005
10,785
Somerville, MA
I've been a proponent of doing 3 points for a regulation win, and then 2 for a win in OT/shootout and 1 for losing in OT/shootout.  I think going beyond this is just a little too complicated for fans to really want to get involved in.  I like the idea of extra points for a regulation win, but don't think it's worth it to go any further than that, though this is a really interesting idea.  I think some hardcore fans would like it, but it would also be too much to deal with for new fans or casual fans.
 

smastroyin

simpering whimperer
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Jul 31, 2002
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The problem with this system is that it adds complication without much incentive.  The difference of getting 5 points compared to a 50/50 shot at 4-3-2-1 is compelling.  But, once you are in the OT, is it worth taking a huge shot at 4 points where the downside is 1, whereas playing it safe the worst case is you cost yourself 2 points?  I'm not sure I'm explaining this properly, but my basic problem is that it seems to provide incentive for weaker clubs to play it safe (trap, etc.) in OT and go for the shootout.  This is why I also endorse the idea that Chuck Z stated.  I realize it is the same math in terms of integers, but that single point is now 33% of an outright win instead of 20% of an outright win, so by it's nature it is more valuable.
 
I would also be ok with no loser points until the SO - so 3 points for ROW, 2 points for SO win, 1 point for SO loss.  And I would be happy to have OT go back to being 5 on 5 in this scenario as well.