Bill sez: >Now, here's a thread that just cries out to be continued... No. Believe me...no thread cries out to be continued. Especially this one. >But seriously, if it's so dang important to the NC$$ (or anyone else) to >avoid ties, then why don't they just do in the regular season what they do >in the playoffs -- play overtimes until somebody scores. There wouldn't be >THAT many 4 OT marathons... I think the shootout is an attempt to interest fans, not so much to avoid ties. And I am also one of those who would like to see sudden death in the regular season, but it won't happen because of the mere chance that a game could go until the wee hours. Yet, sudden death is ok in baseball and other sports...you figure it out. I'd bet sudden death would interest fans more than a shootout. Just look at how exciting the NHL playoffs have been this year with all the OT games. I haven't seen any commentary on the fact that this is another revolutionary change that Hockey East is involved in. Revolutionary doesn't have to mean "for the better", either. :-) I do like the fact that they've tried for the last 9 years (93-94 is 10) to bring some excitement to the game and improve marketing, and I have supported many of the things they've done...but just as I didn't like the 50-minute game (which never came off), I think they're going the wrong way with the shootout. Just saw Jim's mail about 3x2s, 2x1s, etc...sounds like college's version of "Mini One-on-One"! :-) --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMN* 11/13/93