One of my pet peeves of the shootout/loser point era is that some games are worth 2 points in the standings and others are worth 3. Not fair that teams chasing a playoff spot are competing against teams playing each other down the stretch and both accumulating points from a single game. Much prefer the KHL system of awarding 3 points per game while retaining the loser point.
Anyway, since I was curious, below are the current Metro Division standings under the old 2-point and 3-points per game system.
12/31/2023 (2 PPG):
NYR 25 - 10 = 50
CAR 20 - 17 = 40
NJD 19 - 16 = 38
PHI 19 - 16 = 38
NYI 17 - 18 = 34
WAS 17 - 17 = 34
PIT 17 - 17 = 34
COL 12 - 26 = 24
12/31/2023 (3 PPG):
NYR 25 - 9 - 1 = 76
CAR 20 - 13 - 4 = 64
PHI 19 - 11 - 5 = 62
NJD 19 - 14 - 2 = 59
WAS 17 - 11 - 6 = 62
NYI 17 - 9 - 9 = 60
PIT 17 - 13 - 4 = 55
COL 12 - 18 - 8 = 44
Of note, the Rangers and Devils are getting screwed the most under the current system. Not a surprise as they have the fewest loser points.
Just an FYI, the KHL had abandoned the 3 point system in 2018. They have since been on the same stupid 2 + bonus point system as the NHL.
It really does not make sense for some games to be worth 2 points, and some 3. There needs to be a better reward for regulation wins with 3 points. An OT or shootout win is worth 2, and an OT loss worth 1.
The 2+ bonus point system rewards mediocrity, Case in point the Islanders. Their 17-10-9 record yields 43 points for a .597 winning pct. In a 3 point system, they are 13 (3 pt. regulation wins) - 4 (2 pt. OT/SO wins) - 9 (1 pt. OT/SO losses) - 10 (regulation losses), for a point total of 55 and a .509 winning pct.
And I know I'm beating a dead horse, but last year the Bruins broke the single season record for points by a team with 135. The record deserves an asterisk. A big asterisk. It's nothing compared to the 132 points the Canadians got in 76-77. The Canadians played in two fewer games and did not have the benefit of a bonus point. 132 points (60-8-12) in 80 games is remarkable. If you eliminated the OT games the Bruins played last year and call them all ties, thier record would be 54-12-16 for 124 points.
@steadyeddie Thanks for the KHL correction. That Canadiens team was incredible.
The NHL could fix it by just eliminating the loser point. But they like teams staying in the playoff hunt longer to fool their fans into buying tickets. System works exactly as they designed.