Hidden Flaws in the NHL’s Standings

Some fans like the new point system that’s been around for years; most of them don’t. If the NHL wants to take its standings seriously, it needs to fix one glaring issue: the point system doesn’t really make sense.

Currently, the NHL gives two points for a win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and none for a regulation loss. On paper, that sounds fair, but in reality, it creates a system where losing can still help you. So much so, it could help just as much as winning. How is that not seen as a problem to some?

The biggest issue is what fans like to call the “loser point.” This basically means the teams that lose in overtime still skate away with one point, which can potentially increase their position in the standings. Because of this, it’s entirely possible for a team with fewer wins to be ranked higher than a team with more wins. That alone should tell you that something doesn’t seem quite right.

What can be even worse is that not every game is worth the same number of points! A regulation game gives two points total. But if that same game goes into overtime, suddenly there are three points that are handed out, and it seems like that came out of nowhere. The inconsistency can directly impact playoff races, especially later in the season when every point matters. Some teams benefit simply because they play more overtime games, not because they’re better.

If you’re looking for a more logical system, it already exists. The three-point model is used internationally and gives three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime loss, and none for a regulation loss. This, by far, guarantees that every game distributes the same total number of points. Not only that, but it also better rewards teams that win in regulation, rightfully so.

Personally, it seems like the NHL has resisted this change for quite some time, even years. Likely because the current system keeps the standings tighter and more teams “in the hunt,” so to speak. To me, it’s more like artificial drama than true competitive balance. A playoff race should be exciting because teams are good, not because of the math being misleading. Some teams are great, others not so much; it happens, but the point system blurs the black and white to grey.

Then, there’s the playoff format itself. The NHL uses a system where the top three teams in each division automatically qualify for a spot in the playoffs, and the remaining spots go to wild card teams with the next best records in the conference. In theory, this rewards division success while still allowing some strong teams a chance.

In practice, it can create chaos. Because of the division-based format, a weaker division can send three teams to the playoffs while a stronger division might only send two automatic qualifiers. This still happens, even if the fourth-place team in the stronger division has a better record than the third-place team elsewhere.

Now, the wild card doesn’t fully fix this problem either. It often leads to situations where teams with better records are forced into tougher matchups against top seeds, while weaker division winners get more favorable paths. This also causes the playoff bracket to lock early, meaning teams can;t be reseeded based on performance as the playoffs continue.

The result of this? Less fairness, worse matchups that are just sad, and a system that prioritizes geography over quality.

If the NHL really wants to improve its product, the fixes seem to be obvious, but others refuse to believe it. Why not switch to a three-point system so every game is valued equally? If anything, it’ll make games even more exciting with tenser matchups instead of having to see your team get whooped by another team that you knew was going to defeat you, but oh no, the point system says this is how the matchups will be based on points. Why not move to a playoff format that seeds teams purely by record, regardless of division?

To some people, hockey is arguably one of the most exciting sports in the world. It doesn’t need gimmicks to stay that way. But as long as the standings reward losing and the playoffs punish stronger teams, the league is holding itself back from being its truly greater self.