So I did a few calculations today, wondering some things about overtime in the NHL.

Currently the NHL employs a 5 minute 4 on 4 overtime followed by a three round shootout.

I am personally in favor of a 5 on 5 full 20 minute overtime followed by a shootout.

The sabres have played 147 periods (not counting overtime). Of those 147, 118 have featured goals by one of the two teams (80%).

Currently the sabres have had 46% (7/13) of their extra time games decided in overtime.

Looking at when the first goal of a period was scored, going by the sabres.

Of the 118 periods with a goal scored:
41% of them saw that goal scored within the first five minutes. (Note this is barely any worse than what a 4 on 4 five minute overtime shows)

64% of them were scored within the first ten minutes. So if the NHL played a 10 minute 5 on 5 overtime, it would reduce shootouts by nearly 20%, which would also shorten games because 5 minutes with stopages is less time than it takes to zamboni the ice and shoot five or six guys.

If the NHL went to a full extra period, it would see 80% of its games end (and this is using the stats of one of the more defensive teams in hockey) with no need for a shootout.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I'd love that. 10 or 20 minutes of 4-4 hockey. If it's not decided after that, I guess they can keep their shootout.

BRING
BACK
TIES!

_________________

NO TIES NO TIES NO TIES EVER.

It's not plausible for a full 20 minute Overtime in a regular season. you would see too many players being injured or scratched because of fatigue. In the regular season this system works fine the way it is.

You implement 20 min OT's, you're going to see many more injuries, or many more AHL players on the team because the regular NHL players will be too tired.

_________________

DO
NOT
WANT

No offense, but that sounds like a load of crap. That's what having four lines is for.

What you're forgetting is that the entire OT isn't going to be played 80%+ of the time. If my stats carry over to the rest of the league, and they're probably a bit more favorable since buffalo is a defensive team, then most of those OTs will end within the first 10-15 minutes. You're telling me that these professional athletes can't skate for 4-5 more minutes?

My point is that a 5 minute 4 on 4 OT is a failure. Even a 10 minute 5 on 5 OT would be substantially better.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I don't know CV, that is why players only play for a minute a shift at full steam, and in OT you're mostly going to play your top two lines with the occasional third line.

If you add an average of ten minutes to every one of those OT games you're also going to have to worry about your goaltender. And with us we wouldn't want to see Lalime have to play more because 13 of our games have gone to OT, and some would have gone to the shootout also.

_________________

this whole 2 or 3 point system is total bunk. it should be the same amount of points awarded per game. and because i dont think an option should be "win or go home," the tie negates that. who, seriously believes a game played 65 minutes to a tie, should be decided by a shootout? either 2 points or 0? its seriously bullshit. thus, the only way this can work is:

2 points win, 1 point tie, 0 points other.

otherwise, the system just looks awkward. too many teams at, or above .500... its fuckin stupid. plus, its a total throwback. you know, old time hockey, which many of us clamor for.

thats just what i believe.

_________________

_________________
"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

Many want old school hockey, but we do not want to see a Tie.

Ties in sports sucks, you really want to see a team go back to 1-1 ties? Because bring ties back in will bring the trap back in, as teams won't want to go for an extra point if they are guaranteed a point by just tying at the full end.

The point system should be erased really. Keep the system they have with the OT and Shootout, but instead of OT and SO losses they just lose. Go by a Win-Loss record and not points.

_________________

They're not at .500 unless you're dumb enough not to realize that an OT loss is still a loss

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual