Bill Fenwick writes:
>Now suppose at the end
>of the season, the bottom two teams in the league have identical league
>records, say 5-18-1, with the one tie coming against each other.  (I believe
>HE will still play 24 league games -- correct me if I'm wrong...)
 
24 is in the cards for next season.  However, if the proposed shootout
passes, this situation isn't possible...since the tie column for HE
record would likely change to become "shootout losses".  One team would
still be 5-18-1, the other would be 6-18-0.
 
But yes, I fully expect that shootout results will affect where the
teams finish in the standings.
 
I'm not as concerned about a game being worth a differing number of
points as some people, although I respect their opinions.  The maximum
number of points a team may achieve in one game remains the same for
every game.  And, everyone is playing by the same rules.
 
Note that already, teams receive the same number of points whether
they win in regulation or overtime.  Overtime is just being extended
to a shootout.
 
BTW, I do like the proposals Arthur and Rick gave us, and would not be
averse to using one of them.
 
At least this is not the WCHA of 25-30 years ago, where teams received
4 points for beating some teams and 2 for beating others because of
the unbalanced schedule!
---                                                                 ---
Mike Machnik                                          [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                  *HMM* 11/13/93