Should the NHL have ties?

Question

Because of the shootout this is no longer possible, but it is only recently that this has been the case. In fact, for many years there were no overtimes played at ALL in the regular season.

Eventually, a 5 minute sudden-death was added, then it became 4 on 4, and now there MUST be a winner

Good or Bad?

justus - good answer, but you might want to rethink the "full overtime periods in the playoffs". They have some pretty long games in sudden death as it is. If a team STILL had a chance to tie even after a sudden-death goal, you might very well see 40 guys pass out. And no offense meant to the kind of shape NHL players are in.

Answer 1

It is unfortunate that after the overtime the game goes to a shootout, because it feels like all the work that went on throughout the game, gets dwindled down to almost a paper, rock, scissors match. It feels thin, however, i think the positives outweigh the negatives. It's better and more balanced when it comes down to playoff standings. Especially when thinking about the games that wouldve ended 0-0 previously. Also, after the lockout, the NHL fanbase dwindled significantly, love it or hate it, the shootout is exciting, and it has brought alot of former fans back as well as grabbing new fans. To be honest, NHL needs all the help it can get as far as fans are concerned.

Answer 2

There was nothing wrong with having tie games during the regular season. Each game was worth 2 points in the standings, and if the teams tied, each team got one of those points.

To me, if the teams are tied after 60 minutes, then they were pretty evenly matched that night and each one should get a point.

It doesn't make sense to me that they should play a different game (4 on 4 sudden death) to decide a point in the standings for a game that is regularly played 5 on 5 (except for penalties) for a set period of time. Even in the playoffs, where there does need to be a winning team, it would make sense to have full overtime periods rather than sudden death.

Edit: Good Point about them getting even longer in OT- I was on a roll! Maybe shorter OT period, but like basketball, you have the opportunity to score for a defined period of time. The question of sudden death versus defined OT period is a small matter to me as opposed to the larger matter of the abomination of shootouts.



I look at it this way: essentially now, each team is awarded one standings point at the end of a tie game, but because of the tie, they have the opportunity to gain another standings point based on an individual skills competition (shootout).

When you look at it that way, it makes no sense at all. You may say there is a winner, but in essence, there is just a point awarded for winning a shootout.

Answer 3

I like the overtime and the shootout but i would like them to change the point system. If a team loses in Overtime then they shouldn't get a point. Only deserve a point if both teams are still tied after overtime.

Answer 4

in the huge-unfold season, a tie sport is going to a 5 minute added time. in this era, communities skate 4-on-4 particularly of 5-on-5. commencing up after the lockout, if a sport continues to be tied after added time, communities visit a shootout. luckily, there are no shootouts in the playoffs. Playoff added time consists of 20 minute sessions and the sport would not end till somebody scores. this is the main interesting hockey you are able to discover. each shot can probably end the sport. The longest sport in NHL background become in 1936 between the Detroit crimson Wings and Montreal Maroons. the sport become no longer desperate till the previous due ranges of the 6th added time era, 116 minutes of hockey.

Answer 5

I think it's a good thing to have a winner in every game, however, to support that system a new point system should be set in place. If a team would lose every game in OT or the shootout they would have 82 points. A team with an 0-0-82 record would have qualified for the playoff in the East last year which is absolutely insane.

3 points regulation win
2 points OT/SO win
1 point OT/SO loss

Answer 6

I would like to see overtime as sudden death till they drop. No ties, that is a waste of my $100. I paid to see the game ; I want a winner/loser. Shoot-out is o.k. I prefer sudden death till the end.

Answer 7

i think they should go with a ten minute 4-on-4 sudden death OT then call it a tie. it should be 3 points for a regualtion win, 2 points for an OT win, 1 point for a tie and zero points for an OT loss

Answer 8

BAD!!! overtime and shootouts make NHL hockey more fun to watch.

Answer 9

i hate ties so i don't think they should have them
it makes the game feel incomplete