What if the NHL did away with the overtime ‘loser’ point?

One subject that circles around the world of NHL hockey is the discussion of how points are calculated in the standings. As you know, currently 2 points are doled out for wins…a single point if you lose in overtime or the shootout. This formula comes from the past when games ending in a tie score remained so without the need for overtime or the shootout to break it. As such, two points were given for wins and one for each team in games that end in a draw. When the league pushed to insure all games have a declared “winner”, they kept the extra point for teams that lost in extra time…as they would have gained that point in the “old way” of calculating the standings.

However, this point awarded for simply getting the game into overtime before eventually losing is what I call the consolation “loser point”.

Many I’ve spoken to about this cite the inequity of having some games worth 2 points, those that end in regulation…and some games being worth three, such as with any overtime games. To make things more fair, some argue for a three point standard where 3 points are awarded to winners in regulation and doing the 2/1 split when it goes to OT. To be honest…I would prefer this to the current system.

Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals would still be atop the Eastern Conference if only wins and losses counted in the standings...but would that lead be as comfortable? (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

However, another argument is that if the league is going to insist that each game has a “winner”, then each game must simply have a “loser”…and as such, simply do away with the consolation “loser point”, then go with Ws and Ls. Nothing more, nothing less.

But if the league adopted such a change, would it make much of a difference in the way the standing look today with the current points system?

Well… let’s take a look, shall we, by reviewing theNHL division and conference standings as it looks now that we’ve reached the Olympic break.

In the east, the division leaders…and top-three playoff seeds…are Washington, (90 points)… New Jersey, (77)… and Ottawa, (76). The teams currently holding the wild card positions are Pittsburgh, (76)… Buffalo, (75)… Philadelphia, (67)… Boston, (65)…and Montreal (64). Those on the outside looking in are Tampa Bay, (63)… NY Rangers (63)…Atlanta, (62)…Florida, (58)…NY Islanders, (58)…Carolina, (55)…and Toronto (49).

Out west, it’s San Jose, (89 points), Chicago, (87) and Vancouver, (76) as the division leaders and top-three seeds. The wild card teams are Phoenix, (79)…Los Angeles, (78)…Colorado, (76)…Nashville, (71)…and Calgary (69). Those below the playoff line are Dallas, (68)…Detroit, (68)…Anaheim, (67)…St. Louis, (65)…Minnesota, (64)…Columbus, (60)…and Edmonton, (44).

Now…let’s see how the standings would take shape if only Ws and Ls were taken into consideration. Overtime losses are the same as regulation losses…you know, just like overtimes wins are just like regulation wins.

In this system, the standings would resemble those of Major League Baseball or the NBA…wins, losses and winning percentages are all that matters. Then, there is a calculation of “games behind” for all those who are not in first place.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

Team                             W            L            Win %            GB    

New Jersey                   37            24            .607            —

Pittsburgh                     36            26            .581            1.5

Philadelphia                  32            28            .533            4.5

NY Rangers                  28            34            .452            9.5

NY Islanders                 25            37             .403            12.5

Northeast Division

Team                           W            L            Win %            GB    

Ottawa                         36            27            .571            —

Buffalo                         33            27            .550            1.5

Montreal                      29            34            .460            7.0

Boston                         27            33            .450            7.5

Toronto                        19            42            .311            16.0

 Southeast Division

Team                             W            L            Win %            GB    

Washington                  41            21            .661            —

Atlanta                          26            34            .433            14.0

Tampa Bay                   26            35            .426            14.5

Florida                          24            37            .393            16.5

Carolina                        24            37            .393            16.5

 Eastern Conference Playoff Standings – Division Leaders

Team                              W            L            Win %            GB    

1. Washington                41            21            .661            —

2. New Jersey                37            24            .607            —

3. Ottawa                       36            27            .571            —

Eastern Conference Playoff Standings – Wild Card

Team                              W            L            Win%            GB    

4. Pittsburgh                 36            26            .581            —

5. Buffalo                      33            27            .550            2.0

6. Philadelphia             32            28            .533            3.0

7. Montreal                   29            34            .460            7.5

8. NY Rangers              28            34            .452            8.0

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

9. Boston                     27            33            .450            8.0

10. Atlanta                   26            34            .433            9.0

11. Tampa Bay             26            35            .426            9.5

12. NY Islanders          25            37             .403           11.0

13. Florida                   24            37            .393            11.5

14. Carolina                 24            37            .393            11.5

15. Toronto                  19            42            .311            16.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

Team                            W            L            Win %            GB    

Chicago                       41            20            .672             —

Nashville                      33            28            .541            8.0

Detroit                          28            33            .459            13.0

St. Louis                       28            34            .452            13.5

Columbus                     25            38            .397            17.0

Northwest Division

Team                             W            L            Win%            GB    

Vancouver                    37            24            .607            —

Colorado                       35            25            .574            2.0

Minnesota                     30            31            .492            7.0

Calgary                          30            32            .484            7.5

Edmonton                      19            42            .311            18.0

Pacific Division

Team                            W            L            Win%            GB    

San Jose                       40            22            .645            —

Los Angeles                  37            24            .607            2.5

Phoenix                         37            26            .587            3.5

Anaheim                        30            32            .484            10.0

Dallas                            28            33            .459            11.5

Western Conference Playoff Standings – Division Leaders

Team                            W            L            Win %            GB    

1. Chicago                    41            20            .672            —

2. San Jose                   40            22            .645            —

3. Vancouver                37            24            .607            —

Western Conference Playoff Standings – Wild Card

Team                            W            L            Win%            GB    

4. Los Angeles             37            24            .607            —

5. Phoenix                    37            26            .587            1.0

6. Colorado                  35            25            .574            1.5

7. Nashville                  33            28            .541            4.0

8. Minnesota                30            31            .492            7.0

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

9. Anaheim                   30            32            .484            7.5

10. Calgary                  30            32            .484            7.5

11. Detroit                    28            33            .459            9.0

12. Dallas                     28            33            .459            9.0

13. St. Louis                 28            34            .452            9.5

14. Columbus               25            38            .397            12.0

15. Edmonton               19            42            .311            18.0 

As you can see, there is no change in regards to the teams that lead the six divisions. However, out west, Chicago would be the top seed…San Jose would be the second. It’s the opposite using today’s NHL point system method.

New Jersey would still be the number two seed in the east, but would trail first-seed Washington by just three games for the top spot in the conference. Right now, they trail the Caps by 13 points. This is because the Devils have just 3 overtime losses…the fewest in the NHL… while the Capitals have eight.

Also, there are some changes in division positioning…case in point, the Thrashers would be in second place in the Southeast and the Lighting would be third. They would also be in 10th place in the conference instead of 11th and just one game out of the final playoff spot.

The Rangers and Flyers also would switch places as would Boston and Montreal, LA and Phoenix as well as Dallas and Anaheim.

In the conference standings, Montreal would move from the eighth and final spot in the east up on notch to seventh…while Boston would fall from 7th to 9th and out of a playoff spot altogether. In their place would go the NY Rangers.

Martin Havlat, Guillaume Latendresse and the Minnesota Wild would benefit most in a Ws & Ls only environment (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

Out west, Minnesota would move all the way up from 13th to 8th, while Calgary would lose it’s playoff spot, going from 8th to 10th. The Wild only have 4 overtime losses, the Flames have 9.

The Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings are benefiting most from the current points system given they each have 12 overtime losses. This is why they are but 1 point removed from the playoffs. With just Ws and Ls considered, they drop to the 11th and 12th spots in the Western Conference…but still just 2 games out.

Also worth noting is how Carolina would not be alone in the southeast cellar…they would actually be tied with Florida. The Panthers currently posses 10 “loser” points while the Hurricanes have just 7.