Bit of a tangent, and it's more related to the Devils game than Sharks, but one thing I've always found odd about hockey is that taking a penalty is irrelevant in the last 10 seconds of a game (defending team can hack away at will to prevent a scoring chance, and put themselves in faceoff; they will only suffer 10-15 seconds of their penalty).
We still seem to end up with enough decent scoring chances in the dying seconds of a game, so this is probably a solution looking for a problem, but curious what people think of a few radical ideas:
1. Go to a soccer/football style clock, where the games is not necessarily over at 0:00, but the next stoppage of play (or perhaps once the defending team gains possession of the puck past their own blue line - another rule change I'd be interested in on delayed penalty calls)
2. Any penalty that takes away a scoring chance in the last 30/60 seconds of the game results in a penalty shot (probably too subjective and refs would leave their whistles in their pocket to not 'decide the game')
3. Penalties are called as regular, but the game doesn't end until the penalty is fully served (not applicable in tie games or when the leading team is on the power play)
I suppose this counters the idea of 'deciding the game in regulation', though I would think the rule would apply to OT as well (to prevent shootouts). Just musing out loud...I only actually like idea #1.
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