The National Hockey League is set to change its regular-season tiebreaking system for this season, according to an online report.
ESPN.com is reporting that the first tiebreaker will be a combination of regulation time and overtime victories, with shootout wins excluded.
Previously, the first tiebreaker had been total wins of any kind.
The rule had been proposed by Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson at the general managers meetings last March. A source has told ESPN that both the league’s Board of Governors and Competition Committee have voted to implement the change for the upcoming season.
The change will give more weight to victories gained in some form of team play, rather than by shootout.
