Mike Machnick nicely demonstrated how the scoring of the new HE shoot-outs
could conceivably give the regular season championship -- and an automatic NC$$
bid -- to a team with a 500 record.  Although that time might not rank high in
the national polls, it would bump the school which would otherwise be #12.
To use Mike's example:
        Merrimack 9-9-6 30 points (if it won all its shootouts)
        BU       13-9-2 29 points (assuming that it wins one of the two)
The current bonus point system devalues BU's victories.
Let's look at what happens if we use the system I floated a couple of days ago,
namely giving 5 points for a regulation time or sudden death victory, 3 points
to a shoot-out "victory" and 2 points for a shoot out "loss":
        BU       13-9-2 70 points
        Merrimack 9-9-6 63 points
What's the likelihood of someone backing into a NC$$ bid because of shoot-out
points?  Probably pretty low.  But why take the chance?
More likely -- and hence even more troublesome -- is that a couple of points
might well make the difference between fourth and fifth, and thus home ice in
the HE tourny.  It certainly will make a difference in the standings, and thus
the first round pairings.
Why not fix things now, when no particular team stands to gain or lose much,
instead of waiting until there is a big controversy?