Proposal to Eliminate the NHL Shootout by Emily Smith

 Used during regular season games to decide a game tied after overtime  Three players from each team participate in the shootout, alternating shots  If the score remains tied, the shootout proceeds to a “sudden death” format What is a Shootout?

Background Info and Stats  The shootout was introduced in 2005 to combat the increasing number of tied games during the “Dead Puck Era”  Ties accounted for approximately 13.8% of games in the season  The first year of the shootout’s institution, 11.85% of games went into shootouts  From , 56.8% of all overtime games have gone into a shootout, and 13.2% of all games have ended in a shootout  More wins, less ties, less hockey

 It is not a sufficient way to end a hard-fought game  It only showcases individual talent  It allows the outcome of a team- oriented sport to be decided by a few players  Since it is unacceptable for a playoff game to be decided by a shootout, it should also be unacceptable for a regular season game Reasons to Eliminate the Shootout

Alternatives to the Shootout  Ten minutes of 5-on-5 OT  Ten minutes of 4-on-4 OT  Five minutes of 4-on-4 overtime followed by five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime  Three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, no points for a loss, and one point for each team in the case of a tie

Results  Teams will be less likely to “play for the point”  Because of the two or three point incentive, more games will end with a win in regulation or overtime  Teams that are not particularly skilled in the shootout will have a better chance of putting up wins  A win will depend on the team rather than a few players

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