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Please read all the way to the bottom. This shootout needs to be abolished due to the overall impact that the "skills competition" that is being used to decide NHL hockey games during the season. While the "non-fans" love the shootout, the desired impact is nothing. ESPN still ignores hockey.

Final Eastern Conference Standings

Team Pts Adjusted Points Points - all 3 Point
Boston 116 102 168
Washington 108 89 153
New Jersey 106 80 144
Pittsburgh 99 78 138
Philadelphia 99 78 139
Carolina 97 78 137
NY Rangers 95 76 131
Montreal 93 74 130
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Florida 93 79 135
Buffalo 91 75 127
Ottawa 83 68 118
Toronto 81 61 112
Atlanta 76 56 101
Tampa Bay 66 51 95
NY Islanders 61 48 86

So now the season is done and here is the final Eastern Conference Season. The first column is the points according to the NHL rules this season. Now the bad news. The shootout really matters. It is not just a showcase of great moves. The shootout cost the Panthers not the playoffs, but the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. Under the old tie system, they would have been 4th - see the Adjusted Point Column. Now if all games were worth 3 points (3 for a win in Regulation, 2 for a win in OT or Shootout, and 1 for a loss in OT or Shootout).

I have also included the Western Conference this time.

Team Pts Adjusted Points Points - all 3 Point
San Jose 117 97 165
Detroit 112 94 158
Chicago 104 83 147
Vancouver 100 84 144
Calgary 98 85 140
St. Louis 92 74 129
Columbus 92 73 129
Anaheim 91 70 124
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Minnesota 89 72 124
Nashville 88 67 121
Edmonton 85 72 120
Dallas 83 62 114
Los Angeles 79 65 113
Phoenix 79 70 114
Colorado 69 53 93

Minnesota gets the shaft this year. This is the big slap to the ultimate team being left out by the shootout - which is the ultimate showboat play.

This not only effects the teams in the playoffs, it effects home ice which effects team revenue. It also alters the draft positioning of teams. So this nice little "fun" skills contest is not just for show, it really effects the entire game which is a shame!
Filed Under:   NHL Standings  
April 13, 2009 12:03 PM ET | Delete
ya, NJ had more wins then washington... i think they should go by wins, then points as the tie breaker.
April 13, 2009 12:41 PM ET | Delete
I agree with that. It would encourage teams to try to win more than play for points!
April 13, 2009 3:48 PM ET | Delete
It's never going to change so no point in complaining.
April 13, 2009 6:21 PM ET | Delete
One could start an argument that this system has been around long enough now that teams should take these situations into mind when adding players to their team. Ties happen, so they should realize that the shootout is a very real possibility so they should look for good shoot out players, and also have shoot outs as part of practice. The reason Florida did not make the playoffs is because they did not win enough games its as simple as that.
April 13, 2009 8:35 PM ET | Delete
Actually Florida won 4 more games than NYR and 1 more than Pittsburgh if you remove the shootout.
April 14, 2009 8:59 AM ET | Delete
who didnt get in that has you so pissed of about the point system? you know its the same for every team.
April 14, 2009 6:08 PM ET | Delete
"Actually Florida won 4 more games than NYR and 1 more than Pittsburgh if you remove the shootout." Phigmentyes, but the shoot out is here and the Rangers made sure they were better than other teams in the shoot out so they could get those wins. Had Florida just won more games overall be it regulation, OT, or SO they would have made the playoffs. The SO is just another component to hockey that teams have to think about.
April 14, 2009 6:45 PM ET | Delete
April 15, 2009 2:34 PM ET | Delete
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