Three Point Games

So I'm watching the USA-Germany game at the World Junior Championships (The USA lost in OT by the way) and the broadcasters were discussing how the WJC had gone to a format in which a regulation win was worth 3 points, an Overtime or Shootout Win was worth 2 and a OT or SO Loss was worth 1 point. Basically every game is worth three points. If you win in regulation you get all three, but if it goes past regulation you have to split.

I have to say that I really like this format because it still allows the OT and SO formats (which is good) but it also rewards teams for winning in regulation and stops some games from being worth 2 points and others 3 points (combined total) as in the case in today's NHL.

While I was ruminating on this concept, I got to wondering how this type of system might have altered last year's playoff race, so I dumped all the teams into a spreadsheet and made the proper adjustments. Below are the 2005-06 standings under both the old system and the WJC three point system.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TEAM	OLD	WJC
OTT	113	161
CAR	112	152
BUF	110	151
PHI	101	135
NJD	101	134
MYR	100	133
MON	93	126
TBL	92	123
TOR	90	121
ATL	90	121
FLA	85	110
NYI	78	102
BOS	74	97
WAS	70	90
PIT	58	75

The three point game system would NOT have altered which teams made the playoffs in the east. Toronto and Atlanta would both end up two points behind Tampa Bay. However it would have made Philadelphia Atlantic Division champions and made them the 3rd seed with home ice advantage in the playoffs instead of New Jersey.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

TEAM	OLD	WJC
DET	124	175
DAL	112	150
NAS	106	146
CAL	103	145
ANA	98	135
SJS	99	133
COL	95	132
VAN	92	126
EDM	95	123
LAK	89	121
MIN	84	116
PHX	81	109
CBJ	74	95
CHI	65	82
STL	57	71

Out west the alternative system would make a difference in terms of which club made the playoffs. Edmonton would have missed the postseason and Vancouver would have been invited to the dance instead. Dallas which rocked in the extra session last season still would have finished in 2nd place in the west.