8 Nov
Since the 2005-2006 seasons, the NHL adopted the shootout as a mechanism to settle ties in regular season games. The shootout is generally used if the game remains tied after five minutes of overtime.
This how the shootout works: each team names three shooters. If the game continues to be tied after the three shooters have finished, teams then switch to ‘sudden death’ mood; a bout of continuous shooting. The game however cannot end until each team takes an equal number of shots.
Due to the adoption of the shootout, ties are now eliminated from NHL standings. A win brings a team two points [listed as ‘W’), zero points are awarded to the team for a regulation loss (listed as ‘L’) and one point for a game lost in overtime or a shootout (listed as ‘OT’ or ‘OTL’).
The shootout however does not count towards individual statistics, and is thus not added to a player’s total goals or points. A shootout goals allowed is also not included in the goaltender’s goals against, goals-against average or even save percentage. The shootout also has no bearing on plus-minus or any other kind of ‘in game’ statistic.
Games tied with no goals made by either team at the end of over time means that each goaltender is credited with a shutout. This is carried out regardless of the fact of which team wins the shootout or how many shootout goals are scored.
While individual shootout statistics are tabulated in a separate category in official NHL statistics, the winning team gets one extra goal added to their season total. The losing team gets a goal-against added to their season total.