Monday, 1 January 2024

PWHL to feature new shorthanded goal rule, three-point standing system

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has published its first official rulebook ahead of the inaugural season beginning on New Year’s Day and it features some changes from the NHL.

One of the changes includes a new approach to shorthanded goals being scored. If a team scores a shorthanded goal, the penalty with the least amount of time remaining will automatically end.

The PWHL experimented with the shorthanded goal idea and other adaptations during their December pre-season evaluation camp in Utica, N.Y.

“After the pre-season evaluation camp, we surveyed general managers, coaches, players, and officials and received broad consensus that this new rule added excitement to the game,” said Jayna Hefford, Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations in a statement. “I think fans are really going to enjoy the PWHL for its speed and skill in addition to its physicality and competitiveness.”

Another way the league has chosen to innovate is through its standings system. Teams in the PWHL will be awarded three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero points for a regulation loss.

This differs from the NHL where teams are awarded two points for a win, regardless of whether the win comes in regulation, overtime, or a shootout.

If two or more clubs are tied in points, the standings will be determined as follows:

• The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).

• The greater number of games won, excluding games won in Overtime or by Shootout (i.e., ‘Regulation Wins’). This figure is reflected in the RW column.

• The greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout (i.e., ‘Regulation and Overtime Wins’). This figure is reflected in the ROW column.

• The greater number of games won by the Club in any manner (i.e., ‘Total Wins’). This figure is reflected in the W column.

• The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs. For the purpose of determining standing for two or more Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the ‘odd game’) shall not be included. When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any ‘odd games’) shall be used to determine standing.

• The greater differential between goals for and against (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the DIFF column.

• The greater number of goals scored (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the GF column.

League action begins on Monday as New York and Toronto play the first regular season game in league history. You can watch the game on Sportsnet ONE beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET/ 9:30 a.m. PT.



from Sportsnet.ca
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