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Not sure where else to post this but since people were complaining about the extra point being given out in OT, I crunched some numbers using the following system:
3 pts for regulation win
2 pts for OT win
1 pt for OT loss
0 pts for regulation loss
I thought this might produce more sepration but to my surprise it only shuffles the standings a litle bit.
TEAM-W-L-OTW-OTL--NEWPTS-CURPTS
PIT-35-25-8-7-0---128-93
MTL-33-24-9-10----127-94
CAR-34-30-7-5-----121-87
OTT-35-27-6-7-----124-89
NJD-31-26-11-7----122-91
PHI-34-28-4-10----120-86
NYR-28-26-11-10---116-88
BOS-28-28-9-10----112-84
BUF-29-29-6-11----110-81
WSH-28-31-9-8-----110-82
FLA-27-31-9-9-----108-81
TOR-27-31-8-10----107-80
NYI-24-36-9-7-----97-73
TBL-25-38-4-8-----91-66
ATL-16-28-15-8----86-70
The surprises are:
- The team in 9th place is still only 6 wins out of first (18 pts in the new system vs 12 now). I thought for sure there would be a change in that figure, but nope, the better teams are not any better off.
- The next biggest shock was Atlanta. Almost half --HALF!-- of their wins are in OT. Only EDM has a weirder number 19 OTW vs 14 REGW (but I didn't really look at the West). Atlanta's OT dependence makes them bottom of the pile in this system.
The shuffles are:
- PIT/MTL swap spots. OTT/NJD swap spots. PHI/NYR swap spots. BUF/WSH swap spots. TBL/ATL swap spots. These are all pretty trivial swaps; no team moves more than one spot up or down.
Dropping the OTL point doesn't change much either. This is pretty obvious from a glance at the OTL column in any set of standings. The biggest change would be CAR gaining noticeably on everyone in the division but since they're already seeded third due to their division lead, again, not much changes.
Anyways, it would be interesting to run this again at the end of the season and see if anyone would miss/make the playoffs under this system vs the one we have now.
Enjoy.
Good analysis,
This is where I think the biggest change would be with a fairer 3-2-1 point system
1-Teams would play differently when they are aware of such a point system, specially so if it a divisional game, we see quite often teams playing for a tie, that mentality will quickly change.
2- You say the 9th place team is still only 6 wins out of first, TRUE. but that's 6 regulation wins (which is tougher to put together), currently the 9th place team can have 6 OT wins and catch up with the first, that wouldn't be the case with the suggested point system.
I hope to see such a system, as I find the current system absurd.
The same way I feel about awarding top 3 positions for divisional leaders (absurd).
HABS: PLEASE BRING YOUR A GAME TOMORROW AND SKATE FOR 60 MINUTES!
Playing the same lineup is a good idea, in my opinion. Those players worked hard, especially Steve Begin, and they need to be prepared to come out and work hard against the Sens. If they take the game to them, they'll be successful.
Good decision here by Carbo.
I'd sit Lats regardless of how he feels- give him the extra day of rest. The last thing you need is guys aggravating problems at this late stage of the season. Looks like we're in this for the long haul, and we'll need physical guys like him at the top of their game.
We don't play again until Friday so give Lats the extra rest.
Where's Dandenault? I expect to see his face on a milk carton soon.
Go Habs Go !!
Carbo has turned his back on Dandy, too bad he is a solid pro and deserves better treatment.
Carbo has turned his back on Dandy? And this I assume is something you have first-hand knowledge of? What do you know that the rest of us don't know? Are you sitting in the room? Do you take part in practice? Please fill us in, please enlighten us!
It's easy to make off-the-cuff statements like the one you made. But what do you know? Oh.....you don't have anything to back up your statement. OK, no problem, we should all just take your statement as gospel.
I on the other hand think there could be a multitude of reasons why Dandenault is not playing. And I don't sit in that room, so I won't speculate as to what exactly is the reason he is not dressed. There are way too many possible explanations to this. Why do people always look for dirt? Oh, you don't call it dirt? What would you call it?
Mathieu Dandenault has gotten 7 goals 5 assists and is -13 in 57 games. I think he's gotten pretty good treatment so far. Michael Ryder was a 30 goal scorer last year and rode the pine a lot this year.
Besides Smolinski (who played well against Boston) who would you take out of the lineup to replace Dandenault with? This guy play well for one game and then disappears for 5 games. The last 5 games he has 0 points and is -2.
He didn't get arrested or leave the team, he changed positions for the team and they bring in Breezewood? +/- are tough stats and he has played 4th line withut to many scorers and playing for a two week stretch when the team is hot can erase them in a hurry. I would like to see him prepared to go on D if a spot opens up as Breezewood is not the answer. I also think the grind of the playoffs will take it's toll on some on the smaller or younger guys and if Dandy hasn't played at all then it would be tough to ask him to play after sitting 20 plus games. Keep them hungry, keep them prepared but don't turn your back on a player and simply ignore him.
Last night I think was the best game I have ever seen Smolly play. Kudos to him!
It's too late in the season to change things now for Higgins. Definitely don't bench him he is a hard worker and will get a goal here and there because he works so hard.
A big decision for Guy and Bob next year will be finding a spot for Higgins at centre, that is his natural position and I think he would excel in that spot.
Go Habs Go !!
Higgins is not a good passer, at least he chooses not to be, why would anybody want to put him at center position?
The Habs management must have seem him play well enough to draft him in the first place as a centre. I don't think you get my point, he played that position before he was drafted.
He can pass as good as Smolinski that's for sure.
Go Habs Go !!
I have to go with Zamboni on this one and i don't see a problem at all now with Higgy as a two way winger and our best defensive winger to boot so why change him as he is not a playmaker and in my opinion Smols is a better passer. At center Higgy would try to do everything himself which is his problem and the majority of American forwards have the same problem as the US developement program seems to like that. There's dozens of centers that are playing the wing in the NHL.
In Bob we trust.
I'll side with Knuckles on this one. I always thought Higgy down the middle with his speed and vision could create alot of chances and get to alot of loose pucks not to mention he is good defensively......but I'm wondering if Sergei wouldn't make a better centre. Already one of the best passers on this team and he likes to make plays.
Peace out.
Higgins should play defense.
1. He tries so hard, and can accomplish almost anything on ice except putting the puck in the net. So why keep asking that of him?
2. He's basically the same size as Markov, Gorges, Dandenault and Streit, so his physique is not an issue, and he's tough.
3. Most importantly and especially on the PK, he will be invaluable in stuffing Halak's (and Price's) generous rebounds back under his pads.
:)
Ex nihilo nihil fit
but every dman has a role...markov, gorges and streit are puck moving dmen, komi, obyrne and hammer are stay at home dmen, bouillon is some kinda hybrid, he'll join the rush, ineffectively most of the time, but he'll also stay back....so where would higgins fit in?? not big enough to hit, not "visionary" enough to move pucks, and one bouillon is enuff per team...
I think Higgins should play center. He's got a good vision of the game, works hard to get back and sprints forward when needed. He has very good positioning, and could still do the whole crash the net thing if agreed upon with his teammates.
The main advantage? His faceoff percentage is extraordinary.
The way I see it, we need a win in order to clinch a playoff spot which makes tomorrow's game the biggest and most important one of the season. We have not played our best game against the Sens and tomorrow will be a good time to start. I don't care if it's regulation, overtime or what the score is as long as we secure 2 points. Come on Boys, let's show those guys from Ottawa what we're made of.
We must forget it is Ottawa and kick the sh*t out of them. Toronto and NYI managed it...
Ex nihilo nihil fit