# How would you change NHL overtime? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 21, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993 "2010-08-21T20:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/1 "2010-08-21T20:17:19Z")
I hate the current NHL overtime system. The current 4 on 4 five minute period is stupid and the shootout is even worse. 4 on 4 hockey after playing 60 minutes of regular hockey? You don’t add a DH to a National League baseball game that goes into extra innings. The shootout is even worse. Why not have a speed skating contest? I like a ten minute sudden death full strength overtime period. After that, it ends in a tie. I’d rather have a tie and watch 70 minutes of real hockey than sit through a shootout. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/2 "2010-08-21T20:35:08Z")
Used to be 5 minutes full strength overtime with no shootout, and it sucked because the teams would play for the tie instead of trying to win. However, I like your idea with the addition that teams get no points for ties. 2 points for all wins, 0 points for all ties and losses. That’ll make’em play. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/3 "2010-08-21T20:36:58Z")
I wonder if there were no points for losses or ties, would we see the goalie getting pulled frequently during OT? That might be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/4 "2010-08-21T20:49:44Z")
Basically, I’d take everything that the IIHF does to resolve ties, and do the exact opposite. At the very least, shootouts should have 5 skaters, not 3. But I’d prefer to scrap them entirely. I also hate 4-on-4 overtime, but I put up with it in the NHL because it really doesn’t make much of a difference in the regular season. I’ve heard that there’s actually more goals scored per minute of 5-on-5 than 4-on-4, which I can totally believe. It seems to me that 4-on-4 really hurts the cycle and teams that jump defencemen into the rush give up more goals than they score. One suggestion that saw for soccer was to hold the shootout _before_ overtime. The team that wins the shootout gets a half-goal lead; if the overtime period is scoreless, that team wins. Playoff overtime, on the other hand, is absolutely perfect as it is. Don’t change a damned thing, no matter how the broadcasters whine. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/5 "2010-08-21T20:53:08Z")
How would you guys feel about the playoff version of overtime during the regular season? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/6 "2010-08-21T20:59:49Z")
It’d be way too tough on the players. Can you imagine a team playing in the first game of a 3 in 4 nights stretch, and going to multiple overtimes? It’d kill them. Half-way through the first OT period a team would be better off to intentionally lose and save their legs than try for the 2 points. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/7 "2010-08-21T21:21:04Z")
Yeah, it wouldn’t work in the regular season because there are too many back to back games scheduled. Due to travel, LA/Anaheim and Calgary/Edmonton are often scheduled as Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday games for a lot of teams. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/8 "2010-08-21T22:29:44Z")
The only change I’d make is no points for overtime losses. You either win or lose – no fair giving partial credit for “almost won”. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/9 "2010-08-22T17:09:20Z")
Throw 51 pucks on the ice. The first team to put 26 in their opponents goal wins. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/10 "2010-08-23T00:30:44Z")
Pull both goalies after a 10 minute overtime period. So the next shot on goal will be an empty-net goal that wins the game. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/11 "2010-08-23T04:50:40Z")
I thought the idea was to make things better, not make them ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/12 "2010-08-23T10:03:19Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > The only change I’d make is no points for overtime losses. You either win or lose – no fair giving partial credit for “almost won”. I agree with this mostly, except I’d give a point for getting to the shootout. I think a point for losing in overtime is stupid. Also, I support going to a three point system. That is, each game is three points: A win is 3, loss is 0, in a shootout, winner gets 2, loser gets 1. This way all games are worth the same, rather than now where an overtime game has more total points than not. This also gives extra incentive to try and score in overtime or at the end of the game, so people won’t just play for the shootout. As much as the shootout is not regular hockey, I think it’s much more satisfying than the bazillion ties we had before it was implemented. Ugh…I hate ties. True, I enjoy playoff overtime more than anything, but you just can’t do that in the regular season. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/13 "2010-08-23T12:26:47Z")
The reason for the point for a loss in OT is to make teams take more risks on offense which might give up a goal. For example the D men might pinch in. In the past you had people take less risks in OT since they knew a tie was a point. The problem now is I think teams take less risks late in period 3 since they know getting to OT is a point. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/14 "2010-08-23T13:00:20Z")
I dislike any system where some games are worth 3 points and others worth 2. The old system was plenty good enough: Play 10 minutes by same rules as rest of the game. If still tied, take you point apiece and go home. Otherwise, winners get 2 points, losers (regulation or OT) get zilch. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/15 "2010-08-23T13:55:36Z")
No other major US sport has ties now (except in rare cases for the NFL. ) I think in general Americans don’t like ties. BTW, I am not including MLS as a major sport. I count MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and major college FB and BB. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/16 "2010-08-23T14:05:05Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > No other major US sport has ties now (except in rare cases for the NFL. ) \*\*I think in general Americans don’t like ties. \*\* > > BTW, I am not including MLS as a major sport. I count MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and major college FB and BB. I think this bolded statement is bang-on. We Canadians are more than happy to see a 60 minute game end in a tie. But with the Bettmanisation of the league, we are now stuck with a hodge-podge of ever-changing overtime rules that no one seems to like. I’d much prefer going back to 60 minutes of hockey for regular season. And, of course, leaving the playoffs exactly as-is. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/17 "2010-08-23T14:19:32Z")
College FB got rid of ties back in 97 and I don’t think any fan misses them. The college FB OT format is not like a normal game but I don’t hear anyone complain about it. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/18 "2010-08-23T14:34:35Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > I agree with this mostly, except I’d give a point for getting to the shootout. Then you might as well not waste everybody’s time and eliminate overtime and go straight from the end of the third period to the shootout. Teams always will play for guaranteed point in overtime. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/19 "2010-08-23T14:57:35Z")
Anybody know how many more games had a winner in OT once they guaranteed a point to the loser? I’ve never seen stats on that. My guess is the NHL compiled those numbers. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993/20 "2010-08-23T15:01:07Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > College FB got rid of ties back in 97 and I don’t think any fan misses them. The college FB OT format is not like a normal game but I don’t hear anyone complain about it. I miss them and I’m not crazy about the OT format, either. One of my first college games that I went to was Ohio State at Michigan State in 1974. Time running out, Buckeyes down by 3 and inside the 1 yard line. Do they go for the tie or the win? They went for the win and were stopped, then couldn’t get off another play in time. Nowadays they would have kicked the FG and settled for OT. I think the OT takes some of the strategy out of the late game for the sake of avoiding an outcome that was part of the game for decades. Similar case for the Michigan State- Notre Dame game of the century, giving us the old line “Duffy and Ara went to the tailor. Duffy went for a suit, Ara went for a tie.” Great stuff of legend to argue about for decades. OT has robbed us of these kinds of controversies and second-guessing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-change-nhl-overtime/550993.md?page=2)