If Every Game Were Worth Three Points - Week 15

So if every game in the NHL were worth three points such that a win in regulation got you three points, an overtime or shootout win got you two, and an overtime or shootout loss got you one point the standings, the Conference Standings would look like the following.

The Eastern Conference standings would be:

The Western Conference standings would be:

LETS GO CAPS!!!

Caps vs. Devils Tonight at Verizon Center; If Every Game Were Worth Three Points Week 12

The Caps take on the Devils tonight at Verizon Center in a match up of Eastern Conference heavyweights. It's gotten pretty crowded atop the Eastern Conference as the top four teams in the Conference make a move to separate themselves from the rest of the conference before the Olympic break. The Devils are currently in first place with 53 points in 35 games played (0.757); their division foes, the Penguins also have 53 points but have played 38 games (0.697) and so are in fourth. The Capitals are in second place with 52 points in 37 games (0.703) and the Buffalo Sabres are in third place with 47 points in 36 games (0.653). There is currently 4 points between the North East Division leading Sabres and the fifth place North East Division Boston Bruins who have 43 points in 36 games (0.597); while the sixth place Atlanta Thrashers have 40 points in 36 games (0.556). So tonight two of the four Beasts of the Easts face off in DC; a contrast of styles and a good game should be at hand. Both teams come into the game rested and ready to execute. The Caps are looking to win their third game in a row, while the Devils come into the game riding a 5 game winning streak and having just helped Martin Brodeur achieve his history making 104th shutout. Wingman and I will be "Rockin' the Red" in Section 103 and hoping the Caps finish tonight in first place in the Eastern Conference for no other reason then it will mean the Caps had a two point night and took on the Devils - one day and one game at a time.

Before we finish this blog post up in traditional fashion it's time for the "If Every Game Were Three Points" - Week 12 Edition. Remember in these standings a win in regulation is worth three (3) points; a win in OT or the Shoot Out is worth two (2) points; and a loss in the OT/SO is worth one (1) point; a loss in regulation is of course a goose egg - zero (0) points. So here's what the standings would look like going into tonight's games:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

I really don't think any commentary on who is where in these rankings versus in the actual standings at this point. Over 20% of the NHL's games continue to be decided in overtime and/or by the shoot out, and there has been some discussion of doing away with what is erroneously being classified as "the looser point." I couldn't be more against something in hockey then making taking an opponent to a tie in regulation worth nothing. The problem is this whole erroneous idea that it's the "looser" whose getting the extra point - that's because it's the "winner" who is getting the extra point, not the looser. What really needs to happen is that if you want to address this whole debacle properly is to make every game worth the same amount of points - three (3), and if a game ends tied in regulation you split the points. then things would make sense again - the way they did back when teams who finished a game in regulation in a tie, split the points. It's quite simple isn't it? If anything as things stabilize in this post salary cap era more games will go to OT not fewer. If you want the world to make sense then just agree that a game ought to be worth three points - every game.

So now it's time for us to get ready for tonight's game...

LETS GO CAPS!!!

If Every Game In The NHL Were Worth 3 Points - Week 10

It's time once again to look at the alternate universe were a win in regulation gets you 3 points, a win in extra time/the shoot out gets you 2 points, and a loss in extra time gets you one point. So as of the completion of tonight's, Sunday, December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day) games here's what the standings would look like.

Eastern Conference:

Western Conference:

So where's the differences?

Well in the Eastern Conference, the Caps would still be leading the Conference and the Southeastern Division, and Pittsburgh would still be in second and leading the Atlantic Division, Sabres would be in third by virtue of leading the Northeast Division, instead of the Bruins who only have won 9 of their 16 games in regulation. The Devils would still be in fourth and the Atlanta Thrashers would be in 5th place instead of 6th while the previously mentioned Bruins would be in sixth. In 7th and 8th in the Every Game is 3 standings we have Ottawa and the NY Rangers, instead of Ottawa and Tampa Bay.

In the Western Conference, San Jose still leads the League, Conference and the Pacific Division, however, in second we have Colorado vice Chicago or Calgary by virtue of the 14 wins in regulation for the full 3 points. So in the three point standings its 1) San Jose, 2) Colorado, 3) Chicago and 4) Calgary vice the current method where it's 1) SJ, 2) Chicago, 3) Calgary, and 4) Colorado. In both the three point and real standings 5th and 6th place in the West are: Los Angeles and Phoenix. However 7th and 8th in the 3 point standings are 7) Vancouver 8) Nashville, but the current official standings are 7) Nashville and 8) Dallas. The cause of the juxtaposition being Vancouver's 14 wins in regulation which are as many as anybody else in the league.

So doesn't this scoring system make more sense to you than the current system? Sure does to me.

Next up for the Washington Capitals will be Tampa Bay for the first time this season at the Saint Pete Times Forum tomorrow night.

LETS GO CAPS!!!

If Every Game In The NHL Were Worth Three Points Week 9

I'm planning/trying to compile and post what the standings would look like if every game in the NHL were worth three points once a week. To review in my alternate NHL universe every game is worth three points: a win in regulation gets the winner 3 points, a win in overtime/SO gets the winner 2 points, an overtime /SO loss earns one point, and a regulation loss is worth zero points here in my alternate universe. If that's how the NHL operated the standings as of the start of today's games the standings would look like this:

Eastern Conference:

Western Conference:

If you compare these standings with the current official NHL standings once again you can see a difference that is substantive in both Conferences. In the East, the Devils would be the first place team while the Caps and Senators would be second and third, while Pittsburgh would be knotted with the Devils in their division and loose the tie-breaker by virtue of less regulation wins, so those would be subtle but significant differences. Likewise in the 5th through 10th spots there would be significant differences most notably the rangers would be in 5th vs. 10th by virtue of the "extra points they'd have due to their 11 regulation victories. Atlanta would be in 6th vice 7th for the same reason. Buffalo would be in 7th place vice 6th. In both systems the Flyers would be in 8th place, though instead of being in a points tie with 9th place Tampa Bay they would be one point ahead of 9th place Boston. So clearly these "extra points" and the award of the same number of points for every game - 3 would matter a lot in the Eastern Conference.

Likewise in the Western Conference things would matter though more subtly. In the West, the teams, placings and points separation of the 6th through 11th place teams would be materially affected at this juncture.

This shouldn't be surprising to any one since as of today slightly over 26% of the games played in the NHL Regular season have gone into either Overtime or been decided in a Shoot Out. The only thing that doesn't make sense about this situation is how any right thinking person can think it's logical for a team winning in regulation to get the same amount of points as a team winning in overtime or via a skills competition/gimmick.

Not Much To Say Today About the Caps ...

I don't have much to say today about last night's game between the Capitals and the Senators as i missed the vast majority of it basically living my life. I caught part of it on the radio a way of keeping up with things that are hockey that lacks much, then saw a part of the OT, but not the GWG on the tube when I got home. So I cruised the blogsphere today to see what i missed and catch up on other hockey new.

As far as the Caps game, I ascertain it from this morning's reading was a one point night and it should have been a two point night. The Caps and game went pretty much like you could ascertain from he score sheet looking at the third period numbers, add to that that in OT the Caps #1 Defensemen coughed up the puck twice and their rookie goaltender was only able to make one miraculous save out of the two required after being required to make numerous others all the prior 60 minutes, especially the third period and the result was predictable. Also while everyone in the blogsphere understands the Caps have 7 players out and were playing their third game in four nights, it seems nobody feels that is any reason to continue to take minor penalties in the third period, and everyone wishes the Caps would start winning again, like they should... I think that sums it all up pretty well...

In other news around the league last night, you just can't talk hockey today and not mention Dwayne Roloson's performance last evening in Toronto - the Leafs had 61 shots on goal, Roloson stopped 58 and enabled the NY Islanders to leave Toronto with two points. That has to be the best definition of a goaltender stealing a game in the last decade... Not too shabby for a 40 year old who didn't know if any NHL team wanted him last June despite having attained a SV% of 0.915 in 63 GP for the Edmonton Oilers last season... I watched the replay on NHL Center Ice - the guy was awesome especially during the last five minutes of regulation. Really not much else to say one this one other than his prior performance against the Bruins wasn't too shabby either, and if you do the math 58 of 61 is a 0.951 SV%.

The Minnesota Wild and the Montreal Canadeans did something that's become pretty unusual around the NHL , a straight up trade, sending Center Benoit Pouliot to Montreal for Guillaume Latendrasse. Here's what each team is saying about the swap - Minnesota - Montreal. It seems a move designed to get both of these two veterans some new scenery and try and get their performances jump started back to their usual prior numbers. It's something you just don't see much of anymore in this era of free agency and the salary cap because it's not often all the variables can line up to let this happen.

Finally, last night was another night I'd point to as to why every game in the NHL should be a three point game. There were 10 games last night and 4 of them were three point games - 40%. Now look at the standings this morning, just three points separates the 5th place team from the 13th place team in the Eastern Conference. Three points, nine teams, last night of those nine teams only three of them had the opportunity to capture "the extra point" while the other six had to fight for just two points in regulation, by what I see as an injustice in the Eastern Conference, Boston and the Rangers were adversely affected by the current point system last night, since they only got two points for a regulation win. If every game was three points Boston would not have awakened to find themselves tied with Buffalo and the rangers would not have awakened to find themselves tied with the Islanders, Lightning and Flyers. In the Western Conference, Edmonton, Nashville and Dallas would have all fared better last night if they got three points for a regulation win, and yes yet again it would affect the standings in a manner where the implications were significant.

Next up for the Capitals the Sabres at Verizon Center.

LETS GO CAPS!!!