In article <[log in to unmask]>, Steve Moerland
<[log in to unmask]> says:
>
>Northeastern won this game
>and that should be reflected in the win column.  The big question comes at
>the end of the year when, and if, it comes down to a tiebreak based on
>wins. On the one hand Northeastern gets jobbed because they didn't get a
>win for a game they won.
 
There is no "big question" at the end of the year should Northeastern
be on the fringe for an NCAA tournament selection. The NCAA does not
recognize shootouts. Northeastern gets credit for a "win" in Hockey
East only. Northeastern's overall record at the end of the season will
not have any shootout "wins" counted in the win column.
 
The second point you make, that counting Northeastern's shootout "win"
as a win would be unfair to non-Hockey East teams come selection time
is why no HE team that "wins" by virtue of a shootout should get too
excited. (Okay, so it does affect the HE standings and league seeds.)
 
Shootouts are a terrible idea. They don't prove who's the better team.
That would be like having a home run derby to decide the winner of
a baseball game, or having kickers kick field goals to decide a
football game.
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Ryan Robbins               "Nothing in fine print is ever good news."
University of Maine                                  -- Andy Rooney
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