Thank you. I can't believe there are posters who actually believe losing in OT is a good thing. Its better than losing in regulation, but losing is still bad.
The media is trying to sell the fanbase on how "we only have 5 regulation losses" as a good thing. It appears the media tactics have worked on some of the fans.
I don't read Ottawa medias at all, but I said it after just a few games that the positive about their record is the few regulation losses they had, and all the way until now (however 2 regulation loss in last 3 games hurt)
Of course if you look at it with a glass empty angle, you will always only see the negative
Right now the W/L column is 8-5. They have 6 OTL yes but let's say they get another 6 for the rest of the season, and they continue their 8-5 pace in the W/L column, they end up with a 43-27-12 record, good for 98 points again. Then they'll have the pleasure the beat the Mighty Leafs in the first round
Speaking of the Leafs, that's exactly HOW they made the playoffs last season. They don't make the dance without their GOSU 15 OTL. They had one more Point than Isles and Lightning who had respectively 12 and 10 OTLs
2016-2017 NHL Hockey Standings
The thing is. Players do. You think players are stoked about losing in OT and highfive over the point? I guarentee you they don't. Plays with the psyche as well.
Whether the other team beats you 3-2 in regulation or 3-2 in OT. It's a loss and if it's one here one there no biggie. But again. We are losing more often than we are winning. That is never what any team wants to do
Actually, I have heard many many times players being satisfied with getting the point. Of course they are disappointed by not getting the other but it really depends on the context of the game. Do you think they were that down on themselves after coming back from a 4-2 deficit with 1:30 to go in the 3rd period against the Devils?
With such a small threshold for making the playoffs that doesn't appear to be very smart.
We're also 8-5-6 for 22, currently out of the playoffs. Why should we be fine with that?
Only teams in the East with worse records in their last 10 are the Panthers and Sabres, and we have played Colorado twice and Arizona once in that span.
They need to (I think they will) turn things around quick.
But looking at the standings right now and concluding that the Sens are out of the playoffs is not the smartest thing to do either. Games played. I don't even look at standings (until late in the season). Right now, the Sens are tied for 6th in P% in the Eastern Conference.
NHL.com - Stats
A loss is a loss. Shootouts, OT, doesn't matter how they happen, they are part of the game. Learn to win them then.
Also, last I checked, a goaltender is part of the team. If they underperform, we lose. 8 wins and 11 losses is not good enough, period, I don't think anyone can debate that.
One last thing, with time, I have started to look at my team's record differently :
6-5 in Regulation
1-2 in 3v3 Overtime
1-4 in Shootouts
Like this I have a much clearer picture of my team's performance rather than saying "8W-11L". 3v3 and shootouts is NOT real hockey (hence why you don't see that in the playoffs)
This team needs to close out more games in regulation (and goalies have to really stop giving up the tying goals on a silver platter as it happened already 3 times!)
Winning a bit more OT or SO would help as well as the OT record is bad, but my focus is on regulation