Are Shootouts Breaking The Standings?

Much has been made recently of the success of the Edmonton Oilers in the overtime shootout and the affect that has had on their point total. To date the Oilers have taken part in a league high 13 shootouts (the Penguins are next on the list with 7) and have won an astounding 11 of those 13. Depending on how you look at things and your opinion of the shootout, that is an "extra" 11 points for the Oilers on the season.

This topic has intrigued me for a while now and I had always meant to take a look at the standings and see how they would look with and without shootouts in effect. Well, it looks like this is as good a time as any, so here are the NHL standings as they currently look, and how they would look if games still ended in a tie after the 5 minute overtime period.

NHL Standings with Shootouts

Eastern Conference

1. Ottawa* - 58 points
2. New Jersey* - 49 points
3. Carolina* - 46 points
4. Pittsburgh - 48 points
5. Montreal - 48 points
6. Boston - 46 points
7. NY Rangers - 45 points
8. Philadelphia - 44 points
9. NY Islanders - 44 points
10. Atlanta - 43 points
11. Buffalo - 41 points
12. Florida - 41 points
13. Toronto - 40 points
14. Washington - 39 points
15. Tampa Bay - 35 points
    

Western Conference

1. Detroit* - 67 points
2. San Jose* - 52 points
3. Calgary* - 51 points
4. Dallas - 52 points
5. Vancouver - 50 points
6. Anaheim - 50 points
7. Minnesota - 48 points
8. Colorado - 47 points
9. St. Louis - 45 points
10. Columbus - 44 points
11. Phoenix - 43 points
12. Nashville - 42 points
13. Edmonton - 42 points
14. Chicago - 41 points
15. Los Angeles - 32 points
    

NHL Standings without Shootouts

Eastern Conference

1. Ottawa* - 57 points
2. New Jersey* - 47 points
3. Carolina* - 45 points
4. Montreal - 46 points (+1)
   
5. Boston - 45 points (+1)
   
6. Philadelphia - 44 points (+2)
   
7. NY Islanders - 43 points (+2)
   
8. Pittsburgh - 42 points (-4)
   
9. NY Rangers - 42 points (-2)
   
10. Buffalo - 40 points (+1)
    
11. Toronto - 39 points (+2)
    
12. Washington - 39 points (+2)
13. Atlanta - 39 points (-3)
14. Florida - 38 points (-2)
    
15. Tampa Bay - 33 points
    

Western Conference

1. Detroit* - 63 points
2. San Jose* - 50 points
3. Calgary* - 50 points
4. Vancouver - 49 points (+1)
   
5. Minnesota - 48 points (+2)
   
6. Dallas - 48 points (-2)
   
7. Anaheim - 46 points (-1)
   
8. Colorado - 45 points
   
9. St. Louis - 44 points
10. Columbus - 43 points
11. Chicago - 40 points (+3)
12. Nashville - 40 points
    
13. Phoenix - 39 points (-2)
    
14. Edmonton - 31 points (-1)
    
15. Los Angeles - 30 points
    

It's pretty apparent that getting rid of the points awarded for shootout wins does have an impact on the standings. There is quite a bit of shift in the Eastern Conference when you take away points earned from shootout wins, with Pittsburgh and Atlanta getting hit the hardest. The results aren't as dramatic in the Western Conference except for the huge drop in Edmonton's point total. When you look a little closer the biggest impact is really on who has home ice in the first round of the playoffs, which can be huge. Having said that, I don't think there is anything there that would make Gary Bettman and the NHL big wigs think about getting rid of the shootout for one second. It's here to stay my friends.