What Is “Row” in Hockey Standings?

In hockey standings, a “row” refers to Regulation and Overtime Wins. It is a statistical category used to determine a team’s overall success in terms of winning games in regulation time or overtime.

FAQs:

1. What does Regulation and Overtime Wins mean?
Regulation and Overtime Wins are the number of games a team has won during regulation time or overtime, excluding shootout wins. This category helps differentiate teams based on their ability to win games outright, rather than relying on a shootout victory.

2. Why is Row an important statistic in hockey standings?
Row is an important statistic because it helps determine a team’s rank in the standings. In the case of two teams having the same number of points, the team with a higher row value is ranked higher. It gives a clearer picture of a team’s actual winning abilities.

3. How does Row affect tiebreakers in the NHL?
In the National Hockey League (NHL), a tie in points between two teams is broken by the regulation and overtime wins (row) first, before moving on to other tiebreakers such as head-to-head record, goal difference, and more. Row can ultimately determine which team makes the playoffs or gains a higher seed.

4. Can a shootout win affect a team’s row value?
No, a shootout win does not impact a team’s row value. Shootout wins are considered separately from regulation and overtime wins. Only games won in regulation time or overtime are counted towards a team’s row.

5. How is Row calculated?
Row is calculated by summing the number of games won by a team in regulation time or overtime, excluding shootout wins. It is a simple count of the games won without any additional factors considered.

6. Can a team with a higher row value still have fewer total points than another team?
Yes, it is possible for a team to have more regulation and overtime wins (row) but still have fewer total points than another team. This can happen if the team with fewer points has won more games in shootouts, which are not considered in the row category.

7. Does Row affect the way teams play during regulation time or overtime?
While the row value itself does not directly affect how teams play, it does reflect a team’s focus on winning games in regulation time or overtime rather than relying on shootouts. Teams may aim to secure a higher row value to improve their standing in the league.

BOTTOM LINE:
Row, or Regulation and Overtime Wins, is an important statistic in hockey standings as it measures the number of games won in regulation time or overtime. It helps differentiate teams with the same number of points and can impact tiebreakers, ultimately impacting playoff positioning.