Upcoming News Article: New NHL Standings Rule to Impact Playoff Races
A Shift in Scoring: Shootout Wins and Losses Now Count Differently
Teams Will Need to Rethink Strategies as Goals Scored and Against Are Affected
The National Hockey League (NHL) is set to implement a game-changing rule for the upcoming 2023-24 season. In a move that will significantly impact playoff races, shootout victories will now be counted as one goal for, while shootout losses will count as one goal against in the official standings.
This adjustment represents a major change from the previous system, where both shootout wins and losses were not counted in the standings. As a result, teams often played more aggressively in shootouts, as there was no risk of negatively affecting their goal differential.
With the new rule in place, teams will need to carefully weigh the risks and rewards of engaging in shootouts. A shootout win will provide a valuable boost to the team's goal differential, but a loss will have a detrimental impact. This shift is likely to lead to more conservative play in shootouts, as teams aim to avoid conceding goals that could potentially hurt their playoff positioning.
The impact of this rule change is expected to be significant. In past seasons, several teams have qualified for the playoffs based on tiebreakers that involved goal differential. With shootout wins and losses now counting towards the standings, these tiebreakers could become even more crucial.
As the NHL prepares for the upcoming season, teams and fans alike will be eagerly monitoring the impact of this new rule. It is sure to bring about a new level of excitement and strategic nuance to the game, making every point earned even more valuable in the pursuit of playoff glory.
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