Expanded view on three-point win system in KHL

Vladimir Plyushchev, once the head coach of the Russian national ice hockey team, discussed the topic of legal betting in a recent interview and argued for a return to the three-point win system in Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) games. He explained that changing how points are awarded could influence how teams approach each contest, particularly in terms of risk and strategic planning as the game unfolds and approaches its final stages. Plyushchev believes that the current framework has consequences beyond simple scoring; it shapes how teams allocate effort, energy, and tactical risk across the entire 60 minutes, potentially altering the competitive balance in meaningful ways. His analysis centers on the idea that the scoring structure should incentivize a genuine win in regulation and reduce disparities that arise when teams play for overtime rather than a true 60-minute victory, especially in tightly contested matchups where the margin for error is slim and every shift matters. He reiterates that a three-point win system would provide a clearer distinction between a regulation win, an overtime win, and an overtime loss, encouraging teams to push for a decisive result in regulation time rather than banking points through overtime after conserving resources. Plyushchev argues that such a reform could promote tougher, more entertaining play, reduce the likelihood of match-fixing rumors, and align the league with a model that has historically rewarded decisive performances in regulation while still recognizing the value of overtime outcomes. This approach, he notes, would place a premium on consistency and performance over the full duration of the game, creating a more straightforward framework for teams, fans, and league officials who monitor competitive integrity and standings across the season. The concept of awarding three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, and one point for an overtime loss would, in his view, simplify the scoreboard and remove some of the ambiguity that currently exists when a game heads into overtime after a regulation stalemate. He emphasizes that the change would not cancel the excitement of overtime but would speed up the process of awarding a clear outcome when one team proves more effective during the 60 minutes. In countries where this system has been used historically, the potential for strategic preemption of overtime is reduced, and teams are incentivized to close out matches within regulation while still competing vigorously for overtime opportunities if regulation proves insufficient. Plyushchev also points to the broader comparative example of the National Hockey League (NHL), which has implemented a similar two-point rule for overtime outcomes for many years, noting that while the NHL has a large audience and a long tradition of competitive hockey, the debate about point distribution remains a live topic among players, coaches, and fans alike. The discussion, he asserts, should be framed not as a rejection of overtime but as a call to reexamine how the game’s scoring mechanics influence day-to-day decisions on the ice, from line matching to pace and risk management. The aim is to create a more intuitive correlation between team performance across the 60 regulation minutes and the season-long standings, thereby making the league table reflect actual performance more transparently and avoiding situations where the final score is less indicative of the quality of play that occurred earlier in the game. He acknowledges that any adjustment to the rules would require careful planning, consensus among club representatives, and a transition period to minimize disruption for players, fans, and broadcasters who have grown accustomed to the current format. Ultimately, the proposal envisions a more straightforward reward structure that emphasizes decisive victories in regulation while preserving the opportunities that overtime presents to secure additional points under a revised, more intuitive framework for scoring and competition in the KHL.