Proposal to Eliminate the NHL Shootoutby

Emily Smith

Used during regular season games to decide a game tied after overtime

Three players from each team participate in the shootout, alternating shots

If the score remains tied, the shootout proceeds to a “sudden death” format

What is a Shootout?

Background Info and Stats

The shootout was introduced in 2005 to combat the increasing number of tied games during the “Dead Puck Era”

Ties accounted for approximately 13.8% of games in the 2003-04 season

The first year of the shootout’s institution, 11.85% of games went into shootouts

From 2005-2013, 56.8% of all overtime games have gone into a shootout, and 13.2% of all games have ended in a shootout

More wins, less ties, less hockey

It is not a sufficient way to end a hard-fought game

It only showcases individual talent

It allows the outcome of a team-oriented sport to be decided by a few players

Since it is unacceptable for a playoff game to be decided by a shootout, it should also be unacceptable for a regular season game

Reasons to Eliminate the Shootout

Alternatives to the Shootout Ten minutes of 5-on-5 OT

Ten minutes of 4-on-4 OT

Five minutes of 4-on-4 overtime followed by five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime

Three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, no points for a loss, and one point for each team in the case of a tie

Results Teams will be less likely to “play for the point”

Because of the two or three point incentive, more games will end with a win in regulation or overtime

Teams that are not particularly skilled in the shootout will have a better chance of putting up wins

A win will depend on the team rather than a few players

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Langager, Chad. "How Often is Overtime Needed in the NHL?." Sporting Charts. 14 11 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.sportingcharts.com/articles/nhl/how-often-is-overtime-needed-in-the-nhl.aspx.>

----. "How Often do NHL Games End in a Shootout?." Sporting Charts. 13 11 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.sportingcharts.com/articles/nhl/how-often-do-nhl-games-end-in-a-shootout.aspx.>

"Official NHL Rules." NHL.com. Web. 18 Nov 2013. <http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26498>.

Rice, Dan. "NHL Shootouts: Is it Time for a Change?." The Hockey Writers. 10 10 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-shootouts-time-change/>.

Wyshynski, Greg. "Death to the Shootout." Puck Daddy. Yahoo Sports, 10 08 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/death-shootout-support-3-3-overtime-increasing-nhl-

195413310--nhl.html>.

Video courtesy of DeadPhish5868 via YouTube

Works Cited