Well it beats the shootout, but both are gimmicks to make sure a game ends with a "winner" Because ties are stupid and should be relegated to soccer and Greco-Roman wrestling And why is winner in quotes? Winner is in quotes because they received the extra point in a 3-3 contest that isn't real hockey. I get it, it's better than the shootout, and 3-3 keeps them to a minimum. I just don't agree that it is the best thing in sports, especially when games ending in OT/Shootout are now 3 point games and regulation games are 2. This has been going on since the 2005 lockout. I agree ties are stupid, and there is no real solution, I just wish there was a better way to go about it.