Quote:
Originally Posted by Itse
People keep pointing up this "loser point" thing, as if it's somehow more gimmicky than winning that 3rd point. I see those as equally "gimmicky."
|
They are, in fact, the same gimmick. It's ludicrous that in a game where the winner gets 2 points, the league is handing out an average of about 2.2 points for every game played.
In my own opinion, there should never be a third point handed out for a game; but which point you take away depends on how the game was decided. I'm opposed to giving out a point for losing in overtime: let the OT winner get the traditional 2 points, and let the loser eat cake.
But I'm also opposed to giving out an extra point for winning at a cheap show-biz gimmick like the shootout. Every shootout I've ever been to was dull as ditchwater to actually watch, however pretty it may have looked when compressed into a 30-second highlight reel. Most of the time is spent sitting around waiting for the next shooter; most of the shooters try the same two or three tricks; and it all gets very much the same in a hurry.
The only reason I stick around for shootouts is that after investing three hours of my life in regulation + OT, I want to find out how the damned game ends. At that point, I'd be just as happy with a tie. Sure, a tie is an unsatisfying finish to a game, but it's neat, simple, and good enough for the most popular team sport in the world. There's no reason why it isn't good enough for hockey. If OT ends without a decision, I say split the two points and call it a day.
In L.A.'s case, they would have lost 1 point for a SOW and 5 points for OTLs. Calgary would also have 6 fewer points. The real hog at the trough this year has been Winnipeg, with 6 SOWs and 7 OTLs. They have settled less than two-thirds of their games in regulation, and been rewarded with 13 extra points (compared to the pre-OTL, pre-shootout system) for dragging the games out as long as possible. The standings make it look like the Jets are good at winning hockey games, when in reality they are only good at not deciding games.