NHL standings: Shootout wins and losses count as one goal

What does this mean for the standings?

A shootout win counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against

In the NHL, a shootout is a tiebreaker procedure that is used to determine the winner of a game that is tied after regulation and overtime. A shootout consists of three rounds, with each team taking turns sending one player to shoot on the opposing team's goal. If the game is still tied after three rounds, the shootout continues with sudden-death rounds until one team scores and the other team does not.

The NHL standings are determined by the total number of points that each team has earned over the course of the season. Teams earn two points for a regulation win, one point for an overtime or shootout win, and zero points for a loss. In the standings, a shootout win counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.

This means that a team that wins a game in a shootout will have one more goal for than a team that loses a game in a shootout. This can have a significant impact on the standings, as a team that wins more shootout games will have a better goal differential and will be higher in the standings.

The NHL standings are used to determine which teams qualify for the playoffs. The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, and the top three teams in each division are guaranteed a playoff spot. The remaining two playoff spots in each conference are awarded to the two teams with the next highest point totals.

The NHL standings are constantly changing throughout the season, as teams win and lose games. The final standings at the end of the season will determine which teams qualify for the playoffs and which teams will be eliminated.

Conclusion

The NHL standings are a complex and ever-changing system. However, the basic principles are simple: teams earn points for wins and losses, and the teams with the most points at the end of the season qualify for the playoffs. Shootout wins and losses count as one goal for and against, respectively, and this can have a significant impact on the standings.