The Pacific Division standings squeeze and NHL scoring debate
The Pacific Division standings feature a tight logjam where 12 points separate the Golden Knights from the Flames. This competition is driven by the NHL overtime loser point system, which accounted for 24.8 percent of all points in the 2025-26 season.
The Loser Point and Standings
The Pacific Division standings show a tight logjam where 12 points separate the Golden Knights from the Flames. This proximity results from the NHL system where a loss in overtime or a shootout awards one point to the losing team. In the 2025-26 season, 326 regular-season games awarded 3 total points, which accounted for 24.8 percent of all games. This distribution of points can inflate the totals of certain teams and impact playoff qualification. Last season, the average team picked up 10.2 Loser Points. This shattered the previous record of 307 such games from the 2013-14 season.
| Team | W | L | OTL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Knights | 8 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Oilers | 7 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Kraken | 6 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| Sharks | 5 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Ducks | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| Canucks | 2 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| Kings | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Flames | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
If the league adopted the IIHF 3-2-1-0 system, which awards three points for a regulation win and two for an overtime win, at least four playoff teams would have changed in the previous season. The NHL avoids changes to the system because it wants to keep the appearance of close standings battles deep into the season, as 3-point wins for better teams would allow them to pull away from the pack rather than be trapped in a standings logjam.
The Stars
Quinton Byfield needs to step into a first-line role after the retirement of Anze Kopitar. He recorded 24 goals and 25 assists last season, totaling 49 points. This output failed to reach 50 points for the third consecutive year. He currently sits on a five-game point drought and left Tuesday’s game against the Capitals with an upper body injury. Byfield’s production remains disappointing for a player expected to lead the Kings. He weighs 230 pounds and is 6’5 tall. He ranks in the 98th percentile in total skating distance and fell outside the NHL top-10 in speed bursts of 22 MPH. Leo Carlsson is also seeing a shift in his offensive impact. Although he has 11 points in 9 games this season, he managed only one goal in the seven games played since returning from an upper body injury. Carlsson has 2 goals and 9 assists this season. He has played 177:02 minutes in October and holds a 45.3 percent faceoff win rate.
The Squeeze
The Anaheim Ducks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 on October 21. Alex Killorn scored his 18th goal in that contest to help the Ducks reach 8 points. This result prevented the Kings from clinching a playoff spot. The Kings currently have 4 points, while the Flames also have 4 points. You should watch how these overtime points shape the race in the West. The current scoring format makes the standings squeeze inevitable. Last season, the Kings posted 20 overtime or shootout losses, which tied for the most in the league, yet they still made the playoffs despite having only 22 regulation wins. Meanwhile, the Ducks made the playoffs with 26 regulation wins. The Kings and the Ducks are both trying to secure positioning in a division where the top four teams are within 3 points of each other. This loss also puts the chance to avenge two straight first-round playoff losses to Edmonton at risk. Will the NHL eventually adopt a system that rewards regulation wins more heavily? The Kings face the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
