Overtime Points: Devils' Downfall, Penguins' Rise

0:00It's March 24th. You're listening to NHL News today, AI-powered coverage of your team. I'm Corey with the story. The 2025-26 NHL season has been a nightmare for the New Jersey Devils. They hope for a big leap forward, but stumbled hard instead. The Eastern Conference is brutally tight, where even the second wildcard might need 100 points to sneak in. Take the Devils with 35 wins and just 72 points, stuck in 7th in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins match those 35 wins, but sit pretty in second with 86 points. The big gap comes from overtime games. Penguins stretch 22 contests past regulation, grabbing at least a point in 31% of them. Devils managed only 14 such games, about 20%. Those extra points pile up fast, especially since rules apply equally to everyone. Devils fans feel the sting when their team trails after two periods. They snag a point in just two of 26 tries, a lousy 7% rate.

1:03Penguins do better, earning points in 6 of 20. This sparks talk about whether three on three over time and shootouts truly pick fair winners or just reward flash over grit. Switch to a 3-2-1 point setup, like the one used by the International Ice Hockey Federation and pro women's leagues, and the Metro looks. Different. Devils climb to 95 points, but stay near the bottom. Penguins hold second at 115. Washington Capital's leapfrog, Philadelphia, thanks to 30 regulation wins, versus the Flyers 21. This format spotlights true regulation dominance without overvaluing late game gimmicks. In a parody pack season, it sharpens the playoff race while overtime stays thrilling. Devils could erase 9 points in just 3 regulation sweeps.