Over the holidays, I watched the IIHF World Junior Championship (Go Team USA!) and attended a PWHL Takeover game in Seattle between the Boston Fleet and Montreal Victoire. Both events provided an opportunity to watch overtime and shootout hockey.
One of the biggest upsets in the World Juniors was Latvia’s win over Canada in an eight-round shootout. If you haven’t watched it, it’s an impressive display of goaltending dominance, with only one goal scored in 16 shootout attempts. Another great shootout came in Czechia’s bronze medal win over Sweden. The Kraken’s 2023 first-round draft pick, Eduard Šalé, clinched the win in the 14th round, the longest shootout in IIHF history. The full PWHL game is on YouTube as well.
Looking at the standings after these games, I noticed that both the IIHF and PWHL use a three-point standings model, which differs from the NHL’s two-point model. This got me thinking: is one system better than the other, or could they be improved further—perhaps with a five-point model? Let’s review the basics of each standings point model.
NHL two-point model
Most fans are familiar with this model, as the NHL has used it since the “loser” point was introduced in the 1999-2000 season. The system is straightforward:
2 points for any win (regulation, OT, or SO).
1 point for a loss in OT or SO.
0 points for a regulation loss.
Why a loser point?
Before the shootout was introduced in 2005, NHL games could end in a tie, with each team receiving one point. This often led to conservative play in OT, as teams aimed to preserve their single point. To address this, the NHL began awarding one point to any team that reached OT, with an additional point for the game’s winner. The oddity of this system is that regulation wins award two points, while games that go to OT award three points in total (two to the winner, one to the loser).
IIHF/PWHL three-point model
Both the IIHF and PWHL use a model that ensures an equal number of points are awarded in every game. The breakdown is as follows:
3 points for a regulation win.
2 points for an OT/SO win.
1 point for an OT/SO loss.
0 points for a regulation loss.
This system places greater emphasis on regulation wins while still rewarding teams that push games into OT or a shootout.
Overtime format
The NHL, IIHF, and PWHL all use a five-minute OT period played at 3-on-3 to open up the ice and increase scoring chances. However, 3-on-3 hockey is rare during regulation play. While it may offer some thrills, the frantic chaos of overtime has a certain charm that feels more like a skills competition than actual hockey. This is why the NHL playoffs stick to 5-on-5 hockey for OT, continuing until a goal is scored. Playoff hockey, in my opinion, is the best in all of sports. Since the NHL values 5-on-5 play in the playoffs, it would be good to prioritize it in the standings model as well.
Five-point model
As I thought about the three-point model, I wondered if it could be improved. By keeping the total points awarded per game consistent, I developed a five-point model:
5 points for a regulation win.
4 points for an OT win.
3 points for a SO win.
2 points for a SO loss.
1 point for an OT loss.
0 points for a regulation loss.
This tiered approach rewards regulation wins the most, followed by OT wins, and finally shootout wins, while still giving some credit to teams that push games into OT or shootout.
Applying the models
I tested these models on NHL standings data from the 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 seasons. Surprisingly, the same 16 teams made the playoffs in all three models and across all three seasons, though some playoff seedings shifted, potentially altering first-round matchups and possibly rewriting history. Here are the highlights:
2021-22 season
Bolded items are teams for which standing positions differed from the two-point model.
Under the three-point model, Nashville and Dallas swapped wild-card positions in the Western Conference. While both Nashville and Dallas lost in the first round, the three-point model altered the Central Division standings by elevating St. Louis to second place over Minnesota. St. Louis’ stronger record in regulation wins (43 to Minnesota’s 37) supports this ranking.
The five-point model produced similar standings as the two-point model but narrowed the gap between Minnesota and St. Louis to one regulation win, highlighting the increased value of regulation victories.
2022-23 season
Bolded items are teams for which standing positions differed from the two-point model.
The three-point and two-point models produced identical standings in 2022-23, but the five-point model created some shifts. In the Eastern Conference, New Jersey claimed the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, dropping Carolina to second. This adjustment feels accurate, as New Jersey had more OT wins (11 to Carolina’s nine).
In the Western Conference, the Pacific Division saw a reshuffling: Edmonton (1st), Vegas (2nd), Seattle (3rd), and Los Angeles (WC-1). A Vegas-Seattle matchup in the first round would have generated significant hype, though it’s hard to trade away the Kraken’s first-ever playoff victory over Colorado.
2023-24 season
Bolded items are teams that standing positions differed from the two-point model
The three-point and five-point models elevated Winnipeg to the top spot in the Central Division in 2023-24, pushing Dallas to second. Winnipeg’s league-high 46 regulation wins contrasted with Dallas’ 21 OT appearances, suggesting the three- and five-point models better reflected team performance.
Conclusion
Is one model better than the others? Personally, the three-point model used by the IIHF and PWHL seems the most accurate and would be a minor improvement over the NHL’s two-point system. The shifts in playoff standings are minimal, but the three-point model’s consistency (equal points per game) provides a more accurate points percentage. For an example, consider a 10-game series where every game ends in OT wins for one team. The two-point model produces an inflated points percentage of 150 percent, while the three-point model delivers a more logical 100 percent, mirroring the fixed points allocation.
Worth noting, the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which is hosted by the NHL (not the IIHF) will feature the three-point model during the round robin portion of the tournament. So, the NHL may actually be considering such a shift for the future.
If you are interested in looking at the expanded set of all the standings, they are available in Google Sheets here: NHL Standings Models.
What do you think about standings point models? Should the NHL adopt the three-point model, or are there other improvements you’d suggest? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
The Spokane Chiefs have been captainless for the last three weeks while Seattle Kraken prospect Berkly Catton has been away with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa.
In the absence of players attending the tournament, the WHL spotlight has shifted to others further down the depth chart, providing them with more lucrative opportunities to showcase their skills and progression.
One such player making the most of his increased ice time is Mathis Preston, a 16-year-old forward many consider one of the best prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Is it too early to project how high someone will go in a draft two years from now? Maybe. But when a potential future top-five pick is playing in your region almost every night, it’s hard not to take notice.
So, who exactly is Mathis Preston, and why is he already generating so much buzz?
Mathis Preston: A rising star
Selected third overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the 5-foot-11, 168-pound Preston is off to an impressive start to his rookie season with the Chiefs. Through 33 games, he’s recorded 12 goals and 16 assists, placing him fourth among all WHL rookies with 28 points.
Over the weekend, Preston had three assists in two games against the Kamloops Blazers. He attributes his strong start to the growth he’s experienced on a game-by-game basis.
“Coming in as a 15-year-old last season, playing in nine regular-season and playoff games with the Chiefs was also a big help for me in getting my toes in the water a bit with the league,” Preston said. “Then coming into this year, and having [new head coach Brad Lauer] join the team, it let me have more freedom in making plays.”
But it’s not just his point production that’s drawing attention—his complete game is turning heads.
A talent with promise
Preston hails from Penticton, B.C., just a short distance from Kelowna and across the border from Omak, Wash. Growing up, he idolized offensively dynamic players like Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Nathan MacKinnon.
“What an impressive, talented, skilled offensive player,” Button said of Preston. “Lightning-fast hands, lightning-quick mind, offensive instincts off the charts. He reminds me of Joe Sakic.”
Button ranks Preston as the second-best prospect for the 2026 Draft as of now, ranking behind Medicine Hat’s Gavin McKenna, who practically everyone has had as the consensus No. 1 since being granted exceptional status in 2021.
While it may be premature to anoint Preston the next Joe Sakic, there’s no question the tools are there for him to develop into an elite, game-changing player at the professional level.
Always on the move
One of Preston’s standout traits is his high hockey IQ. He’s quick to read the ice, always looking for the next play and finding the best position to capitalize.
Whether skating north-south or in tight areas, Preston is always on the move, making plays with speed and precision.
He has excellent edge work, as shown in a play he made on Saturday where he set up his linemate Coco Armstrong for a goal against Kamloops. Preston’s ability to anticipate and adjust to opponents’ defense is exceptional.
“I think it’s about reading off the other team,” Preston said. “Picking apart their weaknesses and splitting the defensemen to make plays. I read off my teammates too.”
Preston believes that self-assurance is key to his success on the ice, knowing he can be impactful at this level.
“I think confidence is the biggest thing in hockey,” he said. “You can’t play your game without confidence. That’s a big part of my game—just playing with confidence. You always have to think you’re the best player out there. That mindset helps a lot. Playing with good players helps your game and helps everyone around you.”
Room to grow
Like many young players, Preston has room to grow, particularly in terms of consistency. Over his last nine games, he’s fired 34 shots but has only found the back of the net once.
Both Preston and head coach Brad Lauer recognize the need for improvement in this area, particularly as he matures in the WHL and beyond.
“Being 16, it’s not an easy league to be in,” Lauer said. “But he’s a special player. He’s been able to do some creative things, and I think he’s finding his way. He’s starting to understand the team game and the systems we want to play as a group.”
Preston’s play has helped propel the Chiefs to second place in the U.S. Division, just nine points behind the Everett Silvertips for the top spot.
“I think we have to be consistent,” Preston said. “[We need to] bring our best to every single game. It’s unrealistic to say we’re gonna go 68-0, but we need to focus on building good habits and not taking games off.”
Chiefs acquire Andrew Cristall from Kelowna
As if the Chiefs weren’t already dynamic enough with Preston and Catton, they felt they needed a little something extra to finally push them over the hump in the playoffs. So, they did something about it.
With Thursday’s trade deadline looming, the Chiefs announced on Wednesday afternoon the acquisition of Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall from the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for six WHL draft selections, including first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, as well as 2006-born forward Hayden Paupanekis.
Cristall is one of the league’s flashiest players and was one of the last remaining trade pieces to be dealt at this year’s deadline. Selected in the second round of the 2023 draft by the Caps, he’s currently tied for fifth in goals this season with 26 and is only two points behind the league’s top point-getter with 60.
He’ll now join a lineup that already boasts the likes of Catton, in addition to the second-leading goal scorer in the league in forward Shea Van Olm.
Imagining Catton and Cristall on a line is exciting. For Catton specifically, it will be good to see how he does playing with a complementary piece on his side night after night.
“We are very excited to add Andrew to our organization,” Chiefs general manager Matt Bardsley said. “He is a dynamic forward who is a threat to score or create offense every time he is on the ice. His experience in the league, along with 20 games of playoff experience, will be a welcomed addition to our team.”
The Chiefs are slowly closing the gap on the Everett Silvertips and will face them this Friday at Angel of the Winds Arena—a prime opportunity for Spokane, with Catton and Cristall both likely drawing in, to gauge where they stand in the division race.
“When you play top teams like that, it’s a good benchmark for us,” Lauer said. “As a coach, you like to see where you’re at playing against top teams. It’ll give us a good idea of where our group is.”
Header photo by Larry Brunt, courtesy of the Spokane Chiefs.
At the official halfway point of the season, the Seattle Kraken are unofficially cooked. They showed some promise coming out of the holiday break with a shocking comeback win against the Vancouver Canucks, followed by a solid 60-minute victory over the Utah Hockey Club. But, as has been the case all season, the second some positive momentum starts to build, the wheels fall right back off the wagon, this time resulting in three consecutive losses (0-2-1) to close out a four-game homestand.
The most recent Kraken defeat came Monday at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, who came in on a four-game skid. While Seattle again battled hard to stay with a good (albeit struggling) team, conceding a brutal response goal and encountering some unbelievable saves by Jacob Markstrom ultimately sealed the Kraken’s fate.
Here are Three Takeaways from a 3-2 Kraken loss to the Devils.
Takeaway #1: Jacob Markstrom wanted for grand larceny
Despite facing only 24 Kraken shots, the Devils’ netminder was the story of this game and rightfully earned the No. 1 star honors. This was one of those rare occasions where the question wasn’t “how many?” but rather, “how?” Seriously—how on Earth did he stop those?
The first of his three best saves came late in the first period with the game tied 1-1. The Eeli Tolvanen/Shane Wright/Oliver Bjorkstrand line orchestrated a beautiful 3-on-2 buildup that ended with Bjorkstrand storming down the slot for as good a look as you can get. His snap shot appeared destined for the top corner, but Markstrom sprawled to his left, going full street-hockey mode to get a piece of it with his glove.
Highway robbery by Jacob Markstrom on Oliver Bjorkstrand after a great buildup by Wright and Tolvanen.
The other two highway robberies came in the third period, both with the Kraken pressing to tie the game at 3-3. Wright and Tolvanen connected again for what seemed like a surefire goal for Tolvanen, who was staring at a wide-open net. In desperation, Markstrom lunged with his glove. With Tolvanen’s body positioning and the puck in the air, he had no choice but to direct it back toward Markstrom’s big, open mitt for another sensational save.
Minutes later, Markstrom delivered even more wizardry when Matty Beniers tipped a Kaapo Kakko shot and collected his own rebound, flipping it up and over Markstrom. With the goalie flopping flat onto his back, this floating puck would surely drop into the net, right?
WRONG!
From the depths of Hell (where Devils reside), Markstrom reached up and somehow batted the puck out of the air, preserving the tenuous one-goal lead.
UPDATE: THIS is the save of the year from Markstrom!
After the game, New Jersey forward Paul Cotter struggled to put into words what he saw from his netminder.
“I was speechless on a couple of [the saves]. He saved me a couple dashes,” Cotter said. “I mean, we’re nowhere near a win without him tonight.”
Added Markstrom: “It’s a win, two points. I don’t care how we do it. If I make five saves or 12 saves or 40 saves, if we win, I’m happy.”
Takeaway #2: The dreaded response goal
On Monday morning, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma emphasized how critical the second goal of the game is. If you concede the first, can you answer? Or if you score first, can you extend the lead and take control of the game? Unfortunately, the Kraken rarely capitalize on the latter scenario, so when they allow the first goal, they must respond.
Seattle did get the second goal in this game. Adam Larsson, using a Jared McCann screen to his advantage, banked a seeing-eye shot off the far post and in to tie the score at 1-1 at 15:47 of the first period.
But a case could be made that the fifth goal of this game was the most pivotal. The Kraken had just found the elusive equalizer 1:24 into the third period when Shane Wright hammered home a perfect Kakko saucer pass on the power play to make it 2-2.
While scoring that second goal is vital, so too is the next shift after any goal, and the Kraken seemed to forget that detail. Just 37 seconds later, Jack Hughes found Ondrej Palat in a soft spot in the slot, and Palat flicked a shot against the grain past Philipp Grubauer’s glove for the eventual game-winner.
Asked whether the Cotter goal with 24 seconds left in the second and the Palat response goal deflated Seattle, Bylsma said, “Yes, I agree with you.”
Takeaway #3: This feels like the end already
Maybe it’s just hyperbole and an overreaction to getting kicked while down, but this feels like the end of the Kraken’s playoff chances for the season.
…And there are still more than three months left.
Yes, there’s time for a miracle hot streak, but realistically, this team simply isn’t good enough to string together a long series of wins. To beat quality opponents, the Kraken must play near-flawless hockey for 60 minutes. While that’s possible on occasion, it won’t happen consistently enough to re-enter the playoff race.
The Kraken now sit seventh in the Pacific Division. At this rate, a last-place finish—below the Ducks and Sharks—is more plausible than a miraculous playoff berth.
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
The Seattle Kraken captured three points out of a possible six over the past week. However, after securing two points in their first game of the week against Utah, it feels like a missed opportunity to gain more. Following Tuesday’s win over Utah, they came from behind to earn a point against Vancouver but then lost in regulation to Edmonton in a game where the Kraken got off to a horrible start. On top of that, injuries have started to pile up as the hope for any playoff contention push becomes more and more unlikely.
Kraken cold starts and playing from behind
The Kraken had a rough start to Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, conceding two goals within the first 5:18 of the game. Frankly, it could have been worse. Falling behind has been a recurring issue all season. The Kraken have allowed the first goal in 60 percent of their games this season—second worst in the league, behind only the New York Islanders. Their record is 8-16-0 when conceding the first goal, compared to 9-4-3 when scoring first. So far, they’ve trailed during 43 percent of their total game time.
To the team’s credit, Seattle has consistently shown resilience, never giving up and often battling back, as they did on Saturday. They were down 3-0 at one point in the game but managed to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Leon Draisaitl sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes.
Injuries are stacking up
In case you missed it, the Kraken placed goaltender Joey Daccord (retroactive to Dec. 22) and forward Yanni Gourde (retroactive to Jan. 4) on injured reserve (IR) over the weekend. This move opened two roster spots, allowing the Kraken to call up defensemen Cale Fleury and Gustav Olofsson from Coachella Valley. Why two defensemen, you ask? On Saturday night, Adam Larsson missed the third period of the game against Edmonton. He was a full participant in the morning skate on Monday, and coach Dan Bylsma indicated that he is likely to be available against New Jersey. Daccord has been skating with the team, so we expect him back in the relative near future.
Bylsma also indicated that a second defenseman is dealing with an injury, but all six regulars were accounted for at morning skate, and Bylsma said the call-ups were “insurance.”
The Kraken’s playoff hopes are already slim, but with Gourde joining Jordan Eberle on IR—and multiple defensemen banged up—the odds have grown even longer.
PWHL in Seattle
Seattle truly showed up for the PWHL Takeover Tour, delivering an incredible game and an electric atmosphere. Seeing Kraken coach Jessica Campbell drop the ceremonial face-off gave me chills. The attendance of 12,608 was the highest for a PWHL game this season and the second highest in league history. Hats off to the Kraken organization, Climate Pledge Arena, and the PWHL for putting this event together.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Seattle could support a PWHL team. It might not happen during this round of expansion, but when the league starts looking westward, I fully expect Seattle to be on the short list for future teams.
Other musings
Blysma was asked Monday by Alison Lukan about how to address slow starts. He said, “With a loud voice.”
Yanni Gourde missed Saturday night’s game against Edmonton. While I don’t have exact data, it feels like the Gourde line has started most of the Kraken’s games this season. I can’t help but wonder if the Kraken’s rough start Saturday might have been avoided had Gourde played and started that game.
Saturday night might have been Philipp Grubauer’s best performance of the season. The Kraken had no business being in that game, but Phil gave them a chance to compete.
This week was my first time seeing Kaapo Kakko play live as a member of the Kraken. It’s hard to put into words, but his baseline across all aspects of his game feels higher than most Kraken players. While he might not excel at any one skill, he performs well above average in every area.
Matty Beniers had moments on Saturday where he looked the best he has all season. Though he didn’t register a point and only managed two shots on goal, he was noticeably driving play throughout the game.
The World Juniors tournament was a treat this year, with eight Kraken prospects participating. I expect four to return next year: Jakub Fibigr (CZE), Julius Miettinen (FIN), Berkly Catton (CAN), and Kim Saarinen (FIN). Beyond those four, there aren’t many candidates currently in the Kraken pipeline that might be in line for next year’s World Juniors—maybe Nathan Villeneuve (CAN), though that might be a stretch.
Speaking of the World Juniors, it’s hard to imagine the tournament going much better for 2023 first-round pick Eduard Šalé. He captained the bronze-medal-winning Czechia team, scored six goals in seven games, and tallied a goal in the bronze medal game. He also converted on two shootout attempts, including the game-winner.
I tend to adopt a favorite SHL team each season based on Kraken prospects, and for the past couple of years, it’s been HV71. One of my favorite Kraken prospects, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, plays for them. HV71 has won eight of their last 10 games, and Mølgaard has been a significant contributor with 10 points over that span. Being a point-per-game player in the SHL is incredibly difficult, and this is a promising sign of development for the 2023 second-round pick.
Goal of the Week
You might expect me to pick Eduard Šalé’s game-winning shootout goal as this week’s Goal of the Week—but he already claimed last week’s honors. This week, the title goes to Jani Nyman for his game-winning goal for Coachella Valley on Sunday night.
Jagger Firkus (CVF/SEA): Firkus is on a five-game point streak with Coachella Valley. He is currently tied for second in points for the Firebirds this season, alongside Nyman. Clarke Caswell (SCB/SEA): The Kraken’s fifth-round pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft has been on fire, tallying 10 points in his last 10 games for the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL. Vince Dunn (SEA): Dunn has racked up seven points in the four games since the Christmas break, including the game-winning goal against Vancouver last Saturday and the game-tying goal against Vancouver on Tuesday night.
The week ahead
The Kraken haven’t been a playoff-caliber team for a while, but you hope they can keep things interesting down the stretch and maintain the illusion that a postseason push is still possible. They face a tough test on Monday against the New Jersey Devils but then have three winnable road games later in the week: Columbus on Thursday, Buffalo on Saturday, and Detroit on Sunday.
Despite being “winnable,” the matchups won’t be easy. Both Columbus and Detroit have better records than the Kraken and have been playing well over their last 10 games. With the Kraken’s injury struggles, earning six out of eight points this week will be challenging—but it’s what they’ll need to keep the hope alive.
