Section 6: Scoring
Goal Scoring
A goal counts as one point for the scoring team. The player who shoots or last touches the puck before it enters the net is credited with the goal. Up to two assists may be awarded to teammates who participated in the play leading directly to the goal.
Standings Points
In the regular season, teams earn points in the standings as follows:
- Win (regulation, overtime, or shootout): 2 points
- Overtime/Shootout Loss: 1 point
- Regulation Loss: 0 points
Tiebreaking Procedures
If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the following tiebreakers are applied in order:
- Regulation wins (ROW is no longer used; regulation wins take precedence)
- Regulation and overtime wins (excludes shootout wins)
- Total wins (includes shootout wins)
- Points earned in head-to-head games between tied teams
- Goal differential
- Goals scored
Playoff Qualification
The top three teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, along with two wild card teams from each conference (the next two highest point totals regardless of division). Sixteen teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which consist of four rounds of best-of-seven series.