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Overtime! Rules and Incentives in the National Hockey League

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen T. Easton

    (Simon Fraser University)

  • Duane W. Rockerbie

    (University of Lethbridge)

Abstract

We construct a simple 2-period game model to determine the effects of recent National Hockey League rule changes on team incentives to win. The effects differ depending on the relative quality of the contestants and whether the contestants compete in the same conference. The model predicts that the average number of points during a season will rise, yet the average point differential among clubs within the same conference will fall. The model also predicts that the expected value of points per contest will be higher when playing nonconference opponents but lower when playing conference opponents. Because only a small percentage of contests are nonconference, we predict that more effort will be devoted to conference contests, particularly by lesser-talented clubs. The result is more competitive and exciting conference games requiring fewer overtime periods and potential ties. Empirical data support these hypotheses.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen T. Easton & Duane W. Rockerbie, 2005. "Overtime! Rules and Incentives in the National Hockey League," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 6(2), pages 178-202, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:6:y:2005:i:2:p:178-202
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002504264424
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Duane W. Rockerbie, 2016. "Exploring Interleague Parity in North America," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 17(3), pages 286-301, April.
    2. Michael J. Lopez, 2015. "Inefficiencies in the National Hockey League Points System and the Teams That Take Advantage," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 16(4), pages 410-424, May.
    3. Liam J.A. Lenten & Jan Libich & Petr Stehlík, 2013. "Policy Timing and Footballers' Incentives," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 14(6), pages 629-655, December.
    4. Rodney Fort, 2007. "Comments on ``Measuring Parity''," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 8(6), pages 642-651, December.
    5. Rockerbie, Duane, 2014. "Canada at the Crossroads: Improving International Performance by Establishing a New Canadian Soccer League," MPRA Paper 60375, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. R. Alan Bowman & James Lambrinos & Thomas Ashman, 2018. "Prospective measures of competitive balance application to money lines in the national hockey league," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(46), pages 4925-4936, October.
    7. Kurt Rotthoff, 2012. "Bankruptcy behavior in the NFL: does the overtime structure change the strategy of the game?," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 36(3), pages 662-674, July.
    8. Barth, Michael & Emrich, Eike & Daumann, Frank, 2017. "Evaluation of sporting success in Austria: An institutional economics analysis," Working Papers of the European Institute for Socioeconomics 20, European Institute for Socioeconomics (EIS), Saarbrücken.

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