Points System: Revealing Results

With Files from Gil Brown

The current point system is most equitable for playoff races in January and individual franchise marketing, beginning as early as midseason.

Part of the logic behind Detroit Red Wing’s GM Ken Holland’s proposal, shot down in GM meetings in Naples, Florida in March, to change the season ending tie-breaking measures from Wins, to Regulation Wins is incentive for teams to get the job done in 60-minutes.

It’s about motivation, from puck drop in October through to April. But the current point system has greater connotations for marketing games, ticket sales and shaping the playoff race, the biggest issues for owners.

The NHL will not be revisiting the 3-point system any time soon, according to Pierre LeBrun of espn.com, and with reason. Various point systems don—t alter the standings enough to merit change. A three-point system or pre-1999 system without the automatic point awarded to clubs tied at the end of regulation doesn—t provide incentive for the league to implement another point system.

Overtime was introduced in 1983-84, to motivate teams to go for the win.

The game needed a jolt, getting it in 1999-2000 by implementing four-on-four overtime with teams having already banked a point for the regulation tie, as enticement to teams to go for the win in overtime.

Forever known as the ˜loser point— the logic was to remove the fear of losing a point for tying clubs, instead going for the win, open up and generate offense. This change reflected the ˜dead puck era— with trapping teams and 1-0 scores. Clubs sat back and played for the tie in an era of defensive dominance.

In the dead puck era, that may have worked. Sitting on a lead in the post-lockout, revamped NHL, is death. Two and three goal leads can evaporate in a flash.

Motivation

Motivation has changed almost 10 years and one lockout later. Teams struggle to hold on to three-goal leads in the third period. The dead puck era is gone, with a new era of increased scoring shifting the purpose of the overtime point, and further solidifying the shootout as an NHL mainstay.

Point systems aren—t just a final tally to distinguish playoff seeds and golfers. It—s clear with Holland—s proposal that the NHL is looking at the psychological component for temptation to play for regulation wins.

Motivation is key, not changes to the point system.

The ˜loser point— doesn—t motivate. Teams will still play for the extra point. Give teams options and they will use every able loophole for their own benefit.

It—s similar to the relationship between developers and hackers; developers will find ways to make systems safer, but hackers will eventually find a way to break through.

Just like Brian Burke did, bending the rules to ˜acquire— a 4th round pick from the Bolts at the trade deadline.

The Standings Program

I—ve already introduced the program here. Was the playoff race a byproduct of the NHL—s current system, beginning in earnest from January?

Giving it credence, the program was rigged to calculate the standings with the old point system (pre-loser point — tie after overtime, both teams with 1 pt) and with a three-point system (3 pts for a Regulation Win, 2 pts for an overtime/shootout Win, and 1 point for an OT/SO loss).

Tested with stats from various seasons, 2007-08 was used as the prime statistical example; specific dates illustrated day-to-day changes using every point system. Most results mirror the current point system.

Dates (2007-08 season):
Jan 10 – about the 41-game mark for the entire league
Jan 24 – about a month before the trade deadline
Feb 26 – the trade deadline
Mar 30 – approximately 2 weeks in the season and then the final results.

JAN10

Current

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	42	60	Detroit Red Wings	45	70
New Jersey Devils	43	53	Dallas Stars	46	54
Carolina Hurricanes	46	48	Vancouver Canucks	43	52
Pittsburgh Penguins	43	52	San Jose Sharks	42	54
Montreal Canadiens	43	52	Anaheim Ducks	46	52
Philadelphia Flyers	41	48	Calgary Flames	44	51
Boston Bruins	43	46	Minnesota Wild	43	50
New York Rangers	44	45	St. Louis Blues	41	49
New York Islanders	42	45	Colorado Avalanche	43	47
Atlanta Thrashers	45	44	Phoenix Coyotes	42	45
Florida Panthers	44	43	Nashville Predators	42	44
Buffalo Sabres	42	43	Edmonton Oilers	45	44
Washington Capitals	43	41	Columbus Blue Jackets	43	44
Toronto Maple Leafs	44	40	Chicago Blackhawks	43	42
Tampa Bay Lightning	44	37	Los Angeles Kings	45	34

Old

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	42	56	Detroit Red Wings	45	66
New Jersey Devils	43	48	San Jose Sharks	42	52
Carolina Hurricanes	46	46	Vancouver Canucks	43	48
Philadelphia Flyers	41	47	St. Louis Blues	41	48
Montreal Canadiens	43	47	Calgary Flames	44	48
Pittsburgh Penguins	43	45	Minnesota Wild	43	47
Boston Bruins	43	44	Dallas Stars	46	47
New York Islanders	42	40	Anaheim Ducks	46	46
Buffalo Sabres	42	39	Colorado Avalanche	43	42
New York Rangers	44	39	Columbus Blue Jackets	43	42
Washington Capitals	43	38	Nashville Predators	42	41
Florida Panthers	44	38	Phoenix Coyotes	42	40
Toronto Maple Leafs	44	37	Chicago Blackhawks	43	39
Tampa Bay Lightning	44	35	Edmonton Oilers	45	32
Atlanta Thrashers	45	35	Los Angeles Kings	45	30

3-Pts

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	42	84	Detroit Red Wings	45	99
Pittsburgh Penguins	43	70	San Jose Sharks	42	76
Carolina Hurricanes	46	68	Vancouver Canucks	43	72
New Jersey Devils	43	73	Dallas Stars	46	72
Philadelphia Flyers	41	69	Minnesota Wild	43	71
Montreal Canadiens	43	69	St. Louis Blues	41	70
Boston Bruins	43	65	Calgary Flames	44	70
New York Islanders	42	60	Anaheim Ducks	46	69
New York Rangers	44	59	Colorado Avalanche	43	64
Florida Panthers	44	58	Nashville Predators	42	62
Buffalo Sabres	42	58	Phoenix Coyotes	42	62
Washington Capitals	43	56	Columbus Blue Jackets	43	61
Atlanta Thrashers	45	56	Chicago Blackhawks	43	58
Toronto Maple Leafs	44	53	Edmonton Oilers	45	52
Tampa Bay Lightning	44	51	Los Angeles Kings	45	46

NFL playoffs are in full swing, and the average NFL fan is immersed in postseason mentality. The NHL enters the dog days of the schedule, with teams playing out games and looking forward to the All-Star Break.

Current system — January 10 – about the midway point of the season – indicated that a playoff spot is within all clubs reach with 10 teams in the East fighting it out, and another 12 in the West.

The Oilers were five points out of a playoff spot halfway through the season. In the East, the Atlanta Thrashers are one point out of a playoff spot. One point. One singular point.

From this snapshot, it looks like the current system favors a playoff race at midseason, allowing individual franchises to market games with a playoff implications.

Taking ‘loser points’ out of consideration using the OLD system, the Thrashers and Oilers both drop to the bottom of the Conference standings. The Oilers sat second last in the conference, with a playoff spot slipping away in the the OLD (14 pts – seven games). Atlanta slips to dead last in the conference, but only five points out of a spot (three wins). The East follows 14 teams still in the hunt. The West, 10 teams within an eight-point gap.

In the 3-PT system, the Oilers scramble just to stay in the playoff hunt, 17 pts behind – five wins and overtime loss, while Atlanta clings to a four-point gap for the final playoff spot. Twelve teams are contention for five playoff spots in the East, and 11 in the West cling to six playoff spots.

JAN24

Current

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	50	66	Detroit Red Wings	51	78
New Jersey Devils	49	59	Dallas Stars	53	61
Carolina Hurricanes	52	52	Minnesota Wild	50	59
Montreal Canadiens	49	60	San Jose Sharks	49	61
Philadelphia Flyers	48	59	Anaheim Ducks	53	60
Pittsburgh Penguins	49	58	Calgary Flames	50	58
Boston Bruins	49	55	Vancouver Canucks	50	57
New York Rangers	51	54	Colorado Avalanche	50	56
New York Islanders	50	54	Columbus Blue Jackets	51	56
Washington Capitals	50	51	Nashville Predators	50	55
Atlanta Thrashers	52	50	Phoenix Coyotes	49	54
Florida Panthers	51	49	Edmonton Oilers	52	51
Buffalo Sabres	48	48	St. Louis Blues	48	51
Toronto Maple Leafs	51	48	Chicago Blackhawks	50	50
Tampa Bay Lightning	50	45	Los Angeles Kings	51	42

Old

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	50	62	Detroit Red Wings	51	73
Philadelphia Flyers	48	58	San Jose Sharks	49	59
Carolina Hurricanes	52	49	Minnesota Wild	50	56
Montreal Canadiens	49	54	Calgary Flames	50	54
New Jersey Devils	49	53	Dallas Stars	53	54
Boston Bruins	49	51	Columbus Blue Jackets	51	53
Pittsburgh Penguins	49	51	Anaheim Ducks	53	53
New York Islanders	50	48	Nashville Predators	50	52
New York Rangers	51	47	Vancouver Canucks	50	51
Washington Capitals	50	46	St. Louis Blues	48	50
Florida Panthers	51	44	Colorado Avalanche	50	50
Buffalo Sabres	48	44	Phoenix Coyotes	49	48
Toronto Maple Leafs	51	44	Chicago Blackhawks	50	44
Tampa Bay Lightning	50	43	Edmonton Oilers	52	38
Atlanta Thrashers	52	40	Los Angeles Kings	51	37

3-Pts

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	50	93	Detroit Red Wings	51	110
Philadelphia Flyers	48	85	San Jose Sharks	49	86
Carolina Hurricanes	52	73	Minnesota Wild	50	84
Montreal Canadiens	49	80	Dallas Stars	53	82
New Jersey Devils	49	78	Anaheim Ducks	53	80
Pittsburgh Penguins	49	78	Calgary Flames	50	79
Boston Bruins	49	76	Columbus Blue Jackets	51	78
New York Islanders	50	72	Nashville Predators	50	77
New York Rangers	51	71	Vancouver Canucks	50	77
Washington Capitals	50	70	Colorado Avalanche	50	76
Florida Panthers	51	66	Phoenix Coyotes	49	74
Buffalo Sabres	48	65	St. Louis Blues	48	72
Toronto Maple Leafs	51	64	Chicago Blackhawks	50	67
Tampa Bay Lightning	50	63	Edmonton Oilers	52	61
Atlanta Thrashers	52	63	Los Angeles Kings	51	57

Forward to about a month before the trade deadline and the snapshot is just as close in the current system. Atlanta is four points shy of the final playoff spot, with 10 teams seperated by 12 points in the hunt in the East. Edmonton slips to five points out of a playoff spot, and 10 teams realistically compete for a shot at the postseason.

In the OLD and 3-PT systems, they’re featured at the bottom in both respective Conferences. The gap widens to eight for Atlanta (four wins) and 14 for Edmonton (seven wins) in the OLD system. There are 10 teams seperated by a 10-point gap for a playoff spot in the East, while the gap widens to 11 in the West, cut off right before the Oilers in 13th spot.

Atlanta is nine points (three wins) out of a playoff spot with a 3-PT system, and Edmonton has a whopping 16-point (5 wins and overtime loss) difference.

It seems like the playoffs are a pipe dream for some Conference bottom feeders in the OLD and 3-PT system. What is the incentive to ice a competitive team other than pride? Wouldn’t a better draft choice be the goal, rather than a playoff spot? Isn’t that what Toronto’s Tank Nation purports to be the best way to build a team?

Pure hockey enthusiasts would undoubtedly scream, yes!

NHL ownership, however, would not.

Draft choices don’t generate revenue; playoff gates, do. The incentive isn’t on the hockey operation, doing what’s best for the team. Rather, it’s an owner-initiated quandry to make a run for the postseason. For NHL ownership, both the OLD and 3-PT systems do not offer gate revenue. It doesn’t even promote regular season game attendance incentives. Marketing shifts focus to the upcoming season, not the postseason. These point systems take revenue in the form of playoffs implications marketing.

The Super Bowl is right around the corner and die-hard NFL fans are in the spirit. Using the current system, NHL franchises can capture that essence and run with it.

FEB26

Current

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
New Jersey Devils	64	80	Detroit Red Wings	65	90
Ottawa Senators	64	78	Dallas Stars	67	85
Carolina Hurricanes	66	71	Calgary Flames	64	75
Pittsburgh Penguins	64	79	Anaheim Ducks	66	79
Montreal Canadiens	64	77	San Jose Sharks	62	74
Boston Bruins	62	72	Minnesota Wild	63	73
New York Rangers	64	72	Vancouver Canucks	62	72
Philadelphia Flyers	63	69	Nashville Predators	64	72
Buffalo Sabres	63	69	Colorado Avalanche	64	70
New York Islanders	64	67	Phoenix Coyotes	63	69
Washington Capitals	64	66	Columbus Blue Jackets	64	67
Florida Panthers	65	63	St. Louis Blues	63	66
Toronto Maple Leafs	64	63	Chicago Blackhawks	62	64
Atlanta Thrashers	64	62	Edmonton Oilers	64	63
Tampa Bay Lightning	62	57	Los Angeles Kings	64	56

Old

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	64	72	Detroit Red Wings	65	84
Pittsburgh Penguins	64	72	Dallas Stars	67	77
Carolina Hurricanes	66	66	Calgary Flames	64	69
New Jersey Devils	64	71	Anaheim Ducks	66	70
Montreal Canadiens	64	69	San Jose Sharks	62	69
Philadelphia Flyers	63	66	Nashville Predators	64	67
Boston Bruins	62	65	Minnesota Wild	63	66
New York Rangers	64	65	St. Louis Blues	63	64
Washington Capitals	63	65	Columbus Blue Jackets	64	63
Buffalo Sabres	64	63	Vancouver Canucks	62	63
New York Islanders	64	60	Phoenix Coyotes	63	62
Toronto Maple Leafs	64	57	Colorado Avalanche	64	62
Florida Panthers	65	56	Chicago Blackhawks	62	57
Tampa Bay Lightning	62	54	Los Angeles Kings	64	50
Atlanta Thrashers	64	48	Edmonton Oilers	64	49

3-Pts

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Ottawa Senators	64	108	Detroit Red Wings	65	126
Pittsburgh Penguins	64	108	Dallas Stars	67	117
Carolina Hurricanes	66	99	Calgary Flames	64	102
New Jersey Devils	64	108	Anaheim Ducks	66	106
Montreal Canadiens	64	103	San Jose Sharks	62	102
Boston Bruins	62	99	Minnesota Wild	63	100
Philadelphia Flyers	63	97	Nashville Predators	64	99
New York Rangers	64	97	Vancouver Canucks	62	95
Washington Capitals	64	96	Phoenix Coyotes	63	94
Buffalo Sabres	63	93	Colorado Avalanche	64	94
New York Islanders	64	90	St. Louis Blues	63	92
Florida Panthers	65	84	Columbus Blue Jackets	64	92
Toronto Maple Leafs	64	84	Chicago Blackhawks	62	86
Tampa Bay Lightning	62	79	Edmonton Oilers	64	78
Atlanta Thrashers	64	77	Los Angeles Kings	64	76

The NHL Trade Deadline 2008.

Realistically, both Atlanta and Edmonton are in a legitimate position to compete for a playoff spot in the current system by the Trade Deadline. Seven points separate the Thrashers from the Flyers in the East, while a nine point difference seperates the Oilers from the Predators sitting in eighth spot.

It’s a nice tight race, precisely what the NHL wants, healthy franchises all making runs for postseason appearances.

Marketing games for playoff implications hits full scale, with the media frenzy created by the deadline. The current point system comes under scrutiny for shootout and overtime losses and too many three-point games skewing the playoff picture down the stretch through March/April. Clubs jockey for position while the gap in both Conferences reduces (EAST: 9 teams vying for three playoff spots within 10 pts; WEST: 10 teams fight for four playoff spots with a 10-point gap.)

Both the Oilers and Atlanta are pretty much toast for a playoff spot in the OLD system, sitting at the bottom of the Conference standings. The playoff gap shortens with six teams competing for four spots in the East and a wild, wide open West, where anything can happen and 10 teams cling to hope for six playoff spots.

In the 3-pt system, six teams in the East compete for three playoff spots and eight compete in the West to occupy four playoff spots. Both the Oilers and Thrashers are out of the running.

About six weeks are left in the season. The playoff race has officially begun, and the three point games down the stretch will make it more difficult for teams to find tread and drive for the postseason.

Mar30

Current

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Pittsburgh Penguins	79	99	Detroit Red Wings	79	111
Montreal Canadiens	79	98	San Jose Sharks	79	106
Carolina Hurricanes	79	90	Minnesota Wild	80	95
New Jersey Devils	78	93	Anaheim Ducks	80	98
Ottawa Senators	79	92	Dallas Stars	79	93
New York Rangers	78	91	Colorado Avalanche	80	91
Philadelphia Flyers	79	91	Calgary Flames	79	90
Boston Bruins	79	91	Vancouver Canucks	79	88
Washington Capitals	79	88	Nashville Predators	79	87
Buffalo Sabres	79	86	Edmonton Oilers	80	86
Toronto Maple Leafs	79	82	Chicago Blackhawks	79	84
Florida Panthers	79	81	Phoenix Coyotes	79	80
New York Islanders	79	76	Columbus Blue Jackets	79	80
Atlanta Thrashers	79	72	St. Louis Blues	78	74
Tampa Bay Lightning	78	71	Los Angeles Kings	79	69

Old

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Pittsburgh Penguins	79	91	Detroit Red Wings	79	104
Montreal Canadiens	79	88	San Jose Sharks	79	97
Carolina Hurricanes	79	83	Minnesota Wild	80	86
Ottawa Senators	79	86	Anaheim Ducks	80	87
Philadelphia Flyers	79	85	Dallas Stars	79	85
Boston Bruins	79	82	Calgary Flames	79	84
New Jersey Devils	78	81	Colorado Avalanche	80	81
New York Rangers	78	80	Nashville Predators	79	80
Buffalo Sabres	79	78	Vancouver Canucks	79	78
Washington Capitals	79	77	Chicago Blackhawks	79	75
Toronto Maple Leafs	79	74	Columbus Blue Jackets	79	75
Florida Panthers	79	72	Phoenix Coyotes	79	71
New York Islanders	79	67	St. Louis Blues	78	70
Tampa Bay Lightning	78	67	Edmonton Oilers	80	67
Atlanta Thrashers	79	57	Los Angeles Kings	79	62

3-Pts

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Pittsburgh Penguins	79	137	Detroit Red Wings	79	156
Montreal Canadiens	79	132	San Jose Sharks	79	145
Carolina Hurricanes	79	125	Minnesota Wild	80	129
Ottawa Senators	79	128	Anaheim Ducks	80	132
Philadelphia Flyers	79	125	Dallas Stars	79	128
New Jersey Devils	78	124	Calgary Flames	79	124
Boston Bruins	79	122	Colorado Avalanche	80	123
New York Rangers	78	120	Nashville Predators	79	119
Washington Capitals	79	117	Vancouver Canucks	79	117
Buffalo Sabres	79	115	Chicago Blackhawks	79	115
Toronto Maple Leafs	79	110	Columbus Blue Jackets	79	109
Florida Panthers	79	108	Phoenix Coyotes	79	108
New York Islanders	79	101	Edmonton Oilers	80	107
Tampa Bay Lightning	78	98	St. Louis Blues	78	101
Atlanta Thrashers	79	89	Los Angeles Kings	79	93

Days before the season finale and the race is still close for the Oilers, only two points out of a playoff spot using the current system. Meanwhile, the Thrashers have been eliminated with less than a handful of games left. Washington and Carolina are in a dogfight for the top of the conference, the only way the Capitals can salvage a playoff spot, while the West has a Nashville/Vancouver battle going on with the Oilers.

Edmonton is officially eliminated in the following game. The race is over, with only a few games left in the season.

In the OLD and 3-PT systems, both the Thrashers and Oilers have long been eliminated, with the Predators and Canucks fighting it out. The Flames sit only two points behind the WIld for top of the division and a better seeding, that would eventually have them squaring off in the postseason under alternative systems.

The Capitals sit two points (1 win) away from a playoff spot in the OLD system and three points away (1 win) in a 3-PT system, but have no shot at the top of the division. This discrepancy is carried forward into the final season standings below.

FINAL

Current

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Montreal Canadiens	82	104	Detroit Red Wings	82	115
Pittsburgh Penguins	82	102	San Jose Sharks	82	108
Washington Capitals	82	94	Minnesota Wild	82	98
New Jersey Devils	82	99	Anaheim Ducks	82	102
New York Rangers	82	97	Dallas Stars	82	97
Philadelphia Flyers	82	95	Colorado Avalanche	82	95
Ottawa Senators	82	94	Calgary Flames	82	94
Boston Bruins	82	94	Nashville Predators	82	91
Carolina Hurricanes	82	92	Edmonton Oilers	82	88
Buffalo Sabres	82	90	Chicago Blackhawks	82	88
Florida Panthers	82	85	Vancouver Canucks	82	88
Toronto Maple Leafs	82	83	Phoenix Coyotes	82	83
New York Islanders	82	79	Columbus Blue Jackets	82	80
Atlanta Thrashers	82	76	St. Louis Blues	82	79
Tampa Bay Lightning	82	71	Los Angeles Kings	82	71

Old

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Pittsburgh Penguins	82	94	Detroit Red Wings	82	108
Montreal Canadiens	82	94	San Jose Sharks	82	99
Carolina Hurricanes	82	85	Minnesota Wild	82	89
Philadelphia Flyers	82	89	Anaheim Ducks	82	90
Ottawa Senators	82	88	Dallas Stars	82	89
Boston Bruins	82	85	Calgary Flames	82	88
New York Rangers	82	85	Colorado Avalanche	82	84
New Jersey Devils	82	84	Nashville Predators	82	83
Washington Capitals	82	83	Chicago Blackhawks	82	79
Buffalo Sabres	82	81	Vancouver Canucks	82	78
Florida Panthers	82	76	Columbus Blue Jackets	82	75
Toronto Maple Leafs	82	75	St. Louis Blues	82	75
New York Islanders	82	69	Phoenix Coyotes	82	74
Tampa Bay Lightning	82	67	Edmonton Oilers	82	69
Atlanta Thrashers	82	61	Los Angeles Kings	82	64

3-Pts

EAST	GP	Pts	WEST	GP	Pts
Pittsburgh Penguins	82	141	Detroit Red Wings	82	162
Montreal Canadiens	82	141	San Jose Sharks	82	148
Carolina Hurricanes	82	128	Minnesota Wild	82	133
Ottawa Senators	82	131	Anaheim Ducks	82	137
Philadelphia Flyers	82	131	Dallas Stars	82	134
New Jersey Devils	82	130	Calgary Flames	82	130
New York Rangers	82	127	Colorado Avalanche	82	128
Washington Capitals	82	126	Nashville Predators	82	124
Boston Bruins	82	126	Vancouver Canucks	82	117
Buffalo Sabres	82	120	Chicago Blackhawks	82	119
Florida Panthers	82	114	Columbus Blue Jackets	82	109
Toronto Maple Leafs	82	111	Phoenix Coyotes	82	112
New York Islanders	82	104	Edmonton Oilers	82	110
Tampa Bay Lightning	82	98	St. Louis Blues	82	108
Atlanta Thrashers	82	95	Los Angeles Kings	82	96

Other segments of the standings are similar to the original results from last season, with other minor discrepancies.

Pittsburgh and Montreal invoke tie-breaking measures – what Ken Holland tried to change at GM meetings in Naples, Florida – in both systems. In the 3-PT system, both sit tied with 141 points, but Pittsburgh gets the nod with 39 regulation wins over Montreal—s 37. In the old system, they tie with 94 (Pittsburgh still gets first place seeding by virtue of Wins.

Look at the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes! Both make postseason appearances in the 3-PT system (with the Bruins on the outside looking in) and Washington misses the postseason using the old system, with 83 points (Bruins make it), two less than Carolina—s 85 for third place (divisional ranking leaders) and one point shy of the New Jersey Devils holding down the last playoff spot with 84 points.

Atlanta eventually finished in 14th place with 76 points in the current system, with Tampa Bay finishing in last with 71 points. The Bolts sat in last place in the final standings, yet the Thrashers in the 3-PT and Old system, finish in last place, behind the Lightning.

*********
Math doesn’t explain the psychological component, which is really the issue. Would teams have been motivated to play out 2007-08 schedule in another fashion if the point system was different?

These snapshots provide results for games played using the current point system results as a base line. How would the standings have looked if played under the different point systems?

Do teams still play for a loser point in a 3pt system? Do they go for the all-out win? Is parity really that much of an issue considering the state of some teams? Will they try to win games in regulation, or play ‘not to lose’ in the third period?

This system offers owners close playoff races to promote the importance of games, especially from the All-Star Break onward. It seems to be the most generous and beneficial to the overall NHL, and will remain because of that .. don—t expect the loser point or the shootout to go away any time soon.

Does the loser point give teams in playoff races enough incentive to stay in games where they are, say 3 goals behind entering the third period?

What Holland wanted to draw upon is what we will focus our energy on next.

What/where is the motivation?
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