07:02 PM ET  11.12 | Only in the NHL can a losing team claim to be playing at a .500 or better level. For example, as of this post, Atlanta has 17 points in 16 games. At 2 points possible per game, the casual observer might assume that means Atlanta is playing .531 hockey - but that assumes the points system is sane. In reality, Atlanta is 7-9, but 2 of those losses were shootout losses and one was an overtime loss. Meanwhile, Carolina is 8-8 but sits behind Atlanta with only 16 points.

First off, a win should be a win and a loss should be a loss. Currently the losing team can receive half the points they would get for winning just because they came close. This is a professional sport, not boy scouts. There shouldn't be consolation prizes. That, and it can really screw up playoff races when two teams around you manage to get 3 points out of a game that normally awards 2. An overtime win should be worth full points, and an overtime loss should be worth no points.

However, I think most fans would agree with me when I say that making a regulation or overtime win equivalent to a shootout win is ridiculous. The shootout isn't really hockey - it's a gimmick. It would be like if baseball, if things were still tied after an extra inning, held a homerun contest to decide the winner. In a shootout, neither team was able to win in the time allotted for actual hockey, so why give them full points?

Most fans that feel this way immediately jump to the conclusion that the NHL should just get rid of shootouts and go back to ties like they used to have. I disagree. Gimmick or not, the shootout is exciting. It's a hell of a lot more exciting than having things end in a tie, and we all get some closure too. Bonus! But since most people feel a shootout win should not be equal with a regular win, they think the shootout should go.

I say, that logic only makes sense if you assume the NHL has to use a 2 point system. Why not switch to a 3 point system? 3 points for a regulation or overtime win. 0 points for a regulation or overtime loss. 2 points for a shootout win and 1 point for a shootout loss.

Is it really that crazy to think about? The only thing it would really affect is a few team records for season points, but who really cares about those? You keep the excitement of a shootout but you also give the standings the integrity they used to have. It's a win-win.