Pete Stern, Marlboro, N.J.
The NHL should take a lesson from the Olympics when it comes to the points system – three points for a regulation win; two for an overtime/shootout win; one for an overtime/shootout loss; zero for a regulation loss.
Case in point: Canada against Switzerland on Feb. 18th. National pride aside, Canada pushed hard at the end of regulation because they knew they were going to lose a point by getting to overtime.
It was a refreshing change from the typical NHL game at the same point in the third period, where teams typically sit back and wait to earn a point.
Regular season NHL games would be a lot more exciting towards the end of regulation if the players were working not to get to overtime.