NHL consistent with message on shootouts

Gary Bettman spoke with the media in Philadelphia Tuesday and among the multitude of topics covered was the shootout.

“I like the shootout in the way we use it," Bettman, via NJ.com, began. "I wouldn’t like the shootout in the playoffs, and the fact is I like the shootout better than ending a game in a tie. And so the issue is can we tweak overtime so maybe there are slightly fewer shootouts? But the fact is, no matter what your opinion is – from the media or hockey person or fan – watch the buildings when the shootouts are going on. Everybody is on their feet. Everybody is interested. Everybody is watching. When games were ending in ties, that wasn’t so much the case in overtime. ...

"Nobody is looking for a fundamental adjustment. We’re looking more for a tweak to see if maybe we can get a few more games decided in overtime, but the shootout is a concept that’s here to stay."

Source: Randy Miller, NJ.com

That message is consistent with what deputy commish Bill Daly recently told Sportsnet's Hockey Central @ Noon.

"I think the managers are focused on how many games are decided in a shootout. How many points, which are very determinative in close playoffs races are determined in a shootout and they'd like to come up with ways that perhaps change the incentives or change actually what happens on the ice in the overtime to create more decisions in overtime and less in shootouts.

"I don't think the shootout is going anywhere anytime soon. I think the fans love it and as long as the fans love it and they're paying for tickets, we should be trying to serve the fans. But, maybe, perhaps, there are ways you can make it less decisive in playoffs races. I think that's what the managers are focused on."

Could you ever see a day where we saw a shootout in the playoffs?

"No. No."

He added, "We think there's nothing more exciting than playoff overtime and the fact that it can go on for five periods (laughs) is something that's charming and unique to our sport and we don't think there's any more compelling television than playoff overtime so that's not changing anytime soon."

Source: Hockey Central @ Noon/ Fan 590