[AHL] Change in overtime format!

[Optimus]

The American Hockey League, at the request of the NHL, has adopted a
change to its overtime rules effective Friday. The new overtime
will see the teams play five-a-side hockey rather than the normal
six. This rule change will be in effect for the remainder of the
regular season only, and not the Calder Cup playoffs. The exception
will be if a team commits two penalties -- then the team on the power
play can put on the sixth skater, for a 5-on-3 advantage. When the
first penalty is completed and the play stops, play reverts to 4-on-3.

My reaction? The NHL's knee-jerking again, trying to break all these
"horrible ties", and wants to see if this will do the trick. How
long until shootouts rear their ugly head? Tie games are perfectly
legitimate outcomes to a hockey game, IMHO, and there shouldn't need
to be any alterations to the game to break them.

Ian Merrithew - UNB Fredericton

[hos...@mit.disney.com]

In article <7aeqb0$f...@sol.sun.csd.unb.ca>,

c4...@UNB.ca (Optimus) writes:
> The American Hockey League, at the request of the NHL, has adopted a
> change to its overtime rules effective Friday.
>

> My reaction? The NHL's knee-jerking again, trying to break all these
> "horrible ties", and wants to see if this will do the trick. How
> long until shootouts rear their ugly head? Tie games are perfectly

> legitimate outcomes to a hockey game, IMHO...

NHL's disposition towards jerking rules around is laughable. It seems
hilarious to me that they do this to discourage drawish playing, but
they still offer a measley 2 points per win, 1 point per draw. While it
wouldn't provide drastic results, I think awarding 3 points for a win
would alter some performances, particularly at the end of seasons when
teams jockey for playoff berths.

For example: in NHL, if the 3/1 point system were used instead of this
2/1 point system, Florida (with it's 14 draws) would be trailing behind
the Bruins, Habs, Rangers AND Caps: all of whom they're currently ahead
in the standings, hovering at the final playoff berth in the east.

Finally, the fact that they're doing this in the middle of the season --
no, near the end of the season(!), is the most absurd of all. I wish I
had whatever it is they're smoking, cause I'd make damn sure there
was none left for them to put a bigger buzz on the rules.

-- Mr. "*fffffp*...Pogo sticks. Overtime on pogo sticks, dude!" Bag