A quick discussion point on a slow Friday.
Here are the totals for the amount of overtime games in the NHL playoffs since 2007, through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
2007 – 13
2008 – 15 (four between Stars and Sharks)
2009 – 13
2010 – 15
2011 – 20
2012 – 20 (only halfway through Semi-finals)
The past two years there has been a significant increase in the amount of overtime games in the playoffs the past two seasons, and this year 16 overtime games were played in the Quarterfinals alone. A big chunk of that number is attributed to the Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks series, but there’s no doubt that more games are going to overtime in the earlier rounds.
Is this a sign of parity in the NHL, that more teams in the playoffs are evenly matched? Or is this a result of the fact that, during the season and especially leading up to the playoffs, teams would seemingly be content to go to overtime because of the promise of the “loser point.”
The Dallas Stars received just five loser points this season and missed the postseason by six points. The Coyotes (13), Blues (11), Blackhawks (11), Sharks (10) and Kings (15) all had double-digit overtime or shootout losses and all made the postseason. Now, we’re seeing an increase in overtime games in the playoffs.
The question I pose to you: Does the increase in overtime games in the postseason take away from the excitement of such an occurrence? For many sports fans, overtime playoff hockey is the most thrilling and stressful time in all of sports and as Stars fans, we know just how incredibly nail-biting these games are. But when exactly 1/3 of all games go to overtime, does it take away the excitement?
Or does this just a good thing because it means more of the type of hockey we love so much?