The NHL Flip Flops Once Again With the Tie-Breaker Rule

According to an ESPN league source, the league is about to change the rule for regular season tie-breakers.   In the past, teams with the most wins was the first tie-breaker, but starting in 2010 the team that has the most wins in regulation time and overtime will advance. 

This change will exclude shootout wins from the equation.

The rule change is acknowledging that shootout wins are worth less and it diminishes the impact it has on the game. 

Recently the league has been concerned about the number of games decided by a shootout.   Last season saw a 35 games spike putting the total to 184.    Given all the debate about the shootout's place in the game and whether that is a fair way to decide a game or award a point, this recent rule change could be a sign of things to come for how the NHL deals with ties.

However, by changing this rule the NHL once again demonstrates that they have still not figured out how to sell the game.   Take one look at the standings and tell me if you clearly understand what all the numbers mean. 

Many casual fans do not.   And this is who they are trying to appeal to in order to grow the game.

The bottom line is the NHL needs to take a position and stand behind it.   Either the shootout is an integral part of the regular season and the points awarded from it are equal value to a win in regulation/overtime, or it's not equal and do away with it altogether.

It's amazing that the NHL doesn't understand this concept yet as they make it clear year after year they are like a leaf blowing whichever way the wind takes them.

NHL contracts?   They aren't quite sure what legal and what's not.

NHL headshots?   Well some are illegal and some are not, but they aren't quite sure.

Touch or no-touch icing?  They like the rule until someone actually gets killed on the ridiculous play.

You get the idea.

This recent announcement shouldn't surprise anyone because it's not the first time they made up a new rule off the top of their head, and it won't be the last.