The goal of the standings in the NHL should be to most accurately reflect which teams are having the most success on the ice. Right now, all wins are worth 2 points in the standings and an OT loss is worth 1. That means that there are some games that are worth 3 points in the standings while others are worth only 2. I believe it is a flawed system. All regular season games should be worth the same number of points. 

Right now, it is mutually beneficial (in most cases) for both teams to play for overtime. Late in games, if it is tied, both teams can play very conservatively in the effort to secure a single point in the standings and then play for the second point. This creates a large number of games every year in which there is an extra point handed out in those games. A team winning 2-1 in overtime is not having the same success as a team winning 5-0 in regulation. That is why the standings as they are currently structured may not be giving us the most accurate description of which teams are finding the most success and how much more or less success they are having compared to other teams. 

I am starting this petition to make all regular season games worth 3 points regardless of whether they go to overtime or not. This would create a more accurate picture in the standings of which teams are having the most success, which should ultimately be the goal. It also makes much more sense to have all games be worth the same number of points rather than rewarding teams that barely win the same as teams that dominate. Here is how I believe the standings should be calculated:

Regulation Win- 3 Points

Overtime Win- 2 Points

Overtime Loss- 1 Point

Regulation Loss- 0 Points

This system would give us the most accurate understanding of the level each team is playing at over the course of a season. Teams would be rewarded for putting away teams in regulation, and encourage them to play to win throughout the entire game, rather than playing for overtime in the closing minutes. 

Cons: The NHL wants parity in the league. They want teams to be able to go on runs and not be out of the playoff race because the standings are so close. That is the only reason why they would not do something like this. 

The standings would not change dramatically under the proposed system. But they would change slightly to be more accurate. Teams would have more points between them in the standings, but they would also be able to make up points in the standings more quickly because they would be able to get 3 points in a regulation win. While the standings at first glance would not seem as close, the ground would be able to be made up the same way it is now. 

I hope the fans get behind this idea. Ultimately the fans should be able to influence the league because we are what make the league possible.