Overtime in sports is exactly that: extra playing time to determine a winner, not an opportunity to change the rules.
In baseball, they play extra innings to award a victory, not a home run derby.
In basketball, it’s the same thing. The teams play until one ends up with more points than the other, not a slam dunk competition.
In football, the rules don’t change after regulation to see who can kick the longest field goal. The game remains the same.
Hockey should be no different. In the past, fear of marathon games that sometimes occur, as seen in the playoffs, halted the play after a five minute overtime at the most. But most games don’t go past one extra period, and that’s in the playoffs, when a loss can cripple a team.
This season especially has made that very clear. So far in this year's playoffs there have been 15 games to go beyond regulation. The average time it has taken to score the overtime winner is 10:28.
Excluding the four-overtime game between Dallas and San Jose in Game Six of the Western semifinals, the other 14 overtime games have ended in an average of just 6:45, with only one of them going past the first extra period.
Now put the teams in a 4-on-4 situation during the regular season and see how many last beyond ten minutes. Of course some will, but that is the nature of the game. No one should fight it, because overtime is the most exciting part of hockey. A 17- or 18-inning baseball game is not unheard of, either.
Sudden death is the ultimate emotional roller coaster for a fan, as every single play can result in triumph or catastrophe. Think of the greatest games in NHL history and why they stand out.
Many times a great individual effort such as a 10-point game, or a team that comes back from a five-goal deficit in the third period makes a game unforgettable. In many cases, it’s the overtime hero fans remember most, because it’s that one play that stands out in the memories of fans like no other.
Now try to think of a shoot-out that has had the same impact. There might be one or two. Can we really not live without the shoot-out? And what about the team that makes the playoffs because of the shoot-out? Those teams really don’t deserve to be there because it’s not part of the playoffs at all.
Plain and simple, the shoot-out has no place in professional hockey. It should not exist in NHL, because it’s a terrible excuse for excitement. Intensity cannot be fabricated as it is in the current post-overtime game, since the entire process is made up of only two outcomes; goal or no goal. That is not excitement. That is fear.
As a fan, when the opposing team comes down the ice on a breakaway, many fans are not watching with enthusiasm hoping to see a remarkable save by the goaltender. Instead they are more often hoping for a no-goal situation by way of a mistake by the shooter.
A hockey game cannot be ended without playing hockey, and the shoot-out is not hockey. There is no defensive part of the game. There is no physical part of the game. And most importantly, there is no teamwork involved. Hockey is a team sport, and that should not be brushed aside.
As for the argument that teams can't afford to chance missing a post-game flight and that travel is a major issue in this debate, there are always the odd times where a game must be postponed. It might happen five times per year at the most. A week at the end of the season can be reserved for these few games that need to be played.
This does not need to extend the season either. It is not like the old days, when a player waited until training camp to get ready for the season. The players today train 12 months per year and are ready to go when September rolls around.
For this reason, seven, eight, nine preseason games are no longer required. Cut the preseason to about four or five games, and it will clear room for any games that need to be postponed by moving the season ahead one week.
When it comes to the games on TV going to overtime, during double-headers for example, most networks have regional broadcasts allowing viewers to see the game they want anyway, whenever games overlap.
Bonus coverage during intermissions or using alternate network feeds provide viewers with all they need to avoid missing anything.
Continuous overtime does not have to be sacrificed because of a few minor issues. The shoot-out must go.
Of course, ties are no fun either, which is another reason for the continuous play whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs.During the regular season, the NHL should continue using a 4-on-4 structure for overtime but with a minor change. Instead of going to a 4-on-3 situation during penalties, a player would be added to the ice in favour of the team on the power play, creating a 5-on-4 situation, simply because 4-on-3 results in a goal almost half of the time, where a 5-on-4 power play goal ends up in the net only about 20% of the time.
A penalty in overtime should give a team any more or any less chance of scoring than it does during regulation. That just doesn’t make sense. A slash is a slash. It’s not a regulation slash vs. an overtime slash which is what the current NHL has in fact created. This fixes that problem.As for the playoffs, 5-on-5 is the way to go throughout the entire game. Since time and travel is not such a factor as it is during the regular season, it is best to leave the game alone and keep the rules the same until a winner is decided.
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about 1 month ago
I couldn't agree more. The NHL is trying to appeal to new uneducated fans and they are wrecking the game in the process.
about 1 month ago
shoot-outs are sweet .. soccer does it too so dont just use the sports that do not as examples .. if you dont like it then go watch a 19 inning baseball game
about 1 month ago
The only thing I like about the shootout is I'm able to be the crowd out of the arena. I have never stayed for a shootout and I never will. I don't like 4 on four either. I want one set of rules for the entire game.
If baseball wanted to follow the hockey model, the 10th, 11th and 12th inning would have 3 infielders and 2 outfielders and the offensive team would get only 2 strikes and 2 outs. This would be followed by a home run derby.
about 1 month ago
I don't mind the shootout and I don't think it affects the standings that much. What does affect the standings is 3 point games. All games should be worth the same amount of points. This year, a team could have 65 OT losses at a point each and 17 wins at 2 points each and finish with 99 points and in the playoffs at 48 games under .500. Either all games are 2 points or all are 3 (3 for the outright win, 2 and 1 for OT or SO). Not saying that scenario would happen or 3 point games is the way to go but how can all games not be worth the same?
about 1 month ago
Its all about the fans. The NHL believes they have a need to entertain the fans and a shootout is the right thing to do. Sure no other sport is like the NHL with extra time but who the hell cares, I mean its not like we have to do the same thing as every other sport right. Plus I don't think fans are going to watch a lengthy overtime let alone keep their kids there late to watch it. An overtime period and a shootout makes it interesting. It makes the best players go up against the best goalies. Without question the NHL is trying to ENTERTAIN the fan end of story.
from about 1 month ago
You're missing the point. There is nothing more ENTERTAINING than overtime hockey. And as I briefly illustrated, no one would be up all night waiting for a goal. The '08 playoffs are not the only evidence. Long overtimes are not the norm dating back forever. That's what makes the rare ones so memorable.
about 1 month ago
the NHL should conform and not have a shootout so it can be like all other sports right?
soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and they do shootouts...its the most exciting part of a soccer match.
ive played and watched hockey my entire life...im not one of the stupid fans from carolina or tampa, im from buffalo. the shootout brings excitement and keeps the game within a reasonable duration. there was nothing more disappointing than watching a tie in the pre-lockout NHL, so i support the shootout. they dont let it decide major games because its not in the playoffs. its funny that you support 4-on-4 also. thats not traditional hockey and isnt included in the playoffs...
if you think the shootout shouldnt decide who makes the playoffs, then win in regulation or OT and dont let it get there.
this coming from a fan of a team who couldnt win one to save their life
about 1 month ago
the NHL should conform and not have a shootout so it can be like all other sports right?
soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and they do shootouts...its the most exciting part of a soccer match.
ive played and watched hockey my entire life...im not one of the stupid fans from carolina or tampa, im from buffalo. the shootout brings excitement and keeps the game within a reasonable duration. there was nothing more disappointing than watching a tie in the pre-lockout NHL, so i support the shootout. they dont let it decide major games because its not in the playoffs. its funny that you support 4-on-4 also. thats not traditional hockey and isnt included in the playoffs...
if you think the shootout shouldnt decide who makes the playoffs, then win in regulation or OT and dont let it get there.
this coming from a fan of a team who couldnt win one to save their life
about 1 month ago
the NHL should conform and not have a shootout so it can be like all other sports right?
soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and they do shootouts...its the most exciting part of a soccer match.
ive played and watched hockey my entire life...im not one of the stupid fans from carolina or tampa, im from buffalo. the shootout brings excitement and keeps the game within a reasonable duration. there was nothing more disappointing than watching a tie in the pre-lockout NHL, so i support the shootout. they dont let it decide major games because its not in the playoffs. its funny that you support 4-on-4 also. thats not traditional hockey and isnt included in the playoffs...
if you think the shootout shouldnt decide who makes the playoffs, then win in regulation or OT and dont let it get there.
this coming from a fan of a team who couldnt win one to save their life
about 1 month ago
wow sorry about the 3 comments.
but also, you fail to mention that college football has a very similar system in place, and that is exciting as well.
from about 1 month ago
I can't believe people still compare hockey to soccer. Soccer HAS to have shootouts becasue the games would last days. And if nothing was more disappointing than a tie, then please explain why you would even think of continuing with the soccer comments. I really don't care how popular soccer is to the rest of the world...it ranks about 8th in North America. Hockey, football, baseball, basketball, golf, auto racing and fighting all do better on this side of the ocean. I'm sorry if there are a couple soccer fanatics out there but, you are the minority in this part of the world.
And the reason why I have nothing against 4-on-4 is because it changes very little about the game. It's still two teams playing hockey against each other..the rules are all the same. It wouldn't mater to me if the entire game was played 2-on-2 or 10-on-10. The game is still the same. Play as a team to put the puck in the net.
Im not saying that the shootout isn't at all exciting, but I'll never think that it's more exciting than overtime hockey, because it's just not.
about 1 month ago
Gads, this is an uninformed article.
Soccer is NOT hockey, and I despise people that make that comparison because they can't articulate enough about hockey.
Look. The fans love the shootout. Tell me I'm wrong when the whole stadium is on their feet. And William (#3)... are you even a hockey fan? What kind of person would ever leave a hockey game early just to beat the crowd when their team's fate lies on the end of a stick? Unbelievable. Even if my team is down 6-0, I would never leave a game early. Blasphemy.
There is nothing more exciting in sports than the penalty shot. How can you not be enthralled by your team's stars going one on one with the enemy goalie? Would you rather see a five minute 4-4, then a tie? Or maybe a full period of overtime? As a season ticket holder (Sharks) I can tell you that watching a team play a 3OT game then flying overnight to play the next day would be disastrous, especially my team it would seem. Save that marathon for the playoffs where it belongs.
Here's the solution, as it seems that the big issue seems to be points, or the shootout determining the winner... and someone brought this up. If you watch any HNIC, you'll hear this talked about a lot. Get rid of three point games.
Makes sense, right? WHy should a team that loses get anything? We all saw how close the races were in the East and West. I would have loved to see the Hawks in, and they were so close that it's conceivable that a team with more OT losses could have beat them out.
So, to end my rant... the shootout is a beautiful thing in the regular season. You still get sudden death for a bit, and then the skills competition to cap it off. I never hear complaints when their team wins it. And as for the playoffs, that's when true hockey is played... and there's no shootout there.
about 1 month ago
I agree with everything you have said. I've been watching hockey all my life and have watched the NHL constantly try to sell the game south of the border in an effort to increase their popularity. I wish the NHL would finally realize that the game doesn't need constant tweaking and they are actually alienating their core group of fans by making these constant adjustments. Whether it is teams in Nashville and Carolina, cheerleaders in Tampa, 4 on 4, massive goalie equipment, or the shootout, every move they have made has made me gradually lose interest in the game I love. When is Bettman going to give up on marketing the game to potentially new fans and start respecting the history of the game?
As for the comparsion with soccer, I am a soccer fan as well and I don't particularly like the shootout either. Play the game!
about 1 month ago
Hockey isn't the other sports you mentioned, why should they conform?!
from about 1 month ago
It's not about conforming to other sports. It's about following the structure of sports as a whole. You can't end a game of hockey without playing hockey. I was just outlining the framework of sports by mentioning those other ones.
8 days ago
i think shootouts rock but the NHL should have 2 extra periods then a shootout so they dont happen so often.
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