Stop bashing shootouts

I ranted on air last night about those who bash the shootout in the NHL's regular season. How dare you denigrate the most sacred of sporting rituals! Okay, I am exaggerating a little. But there really isn't a shortage of shootout bashers and I am sick of it.

The shootout, in principle, is the deciding element of a game. The league instituted it because they realized that ties were ridiculous. I mean, there's no point in even playing the game if there isn't a winner. You may as well give participation awards and loot bags to everyone if you're going to award ties.

Here's how I see it. The shootout is skill versus skill. The top offensive talents and the best goaltender for each team battle until the cream rises to the top. It's the purest showcase of talent and skill in sports. If you don't have skillful players who can score on a breakaway, you're not going to do well in the shootout. Hence why the Canadiens are so poor in this outcome decider (sorry, it's true, Habs fans).

My most perfect example is what transpired in the spring of 2010. The Flyers and Rangers met on the final day of the regular season, with the winner going to the postseason and the loser going home. The Flyers won in a shootout and then went all the way to the Stanley Cup final. Talk about the best team winning the shootout on that day. There is no greater example of the shootout being the best way to decide the fate of a game than that anecdote.

Still, there are those that want to see continuous OT, or some of my callers had all sorts of crazy alternatives to the shootout. Some called for a skills competition, some wanted to see one great fight at center ice, etc...

But the truth is, the shootout is the best and most exciting option the league has. And you just know all of these critics of the shootout, who call it a gimmick and not traditional, are the same ones who stand on their feet when they are lucky enough to witness one in person.

Don't get me wrong. I would never want to see it in the playoffs. But the shootout should be here to stay in the regular season - if for no other reason than it is the best option for the NHL and its fans.

Game Points with Matthew Ross is Tuesday and Sunday nights on TSN 990 in Montreal. Follow @tsnmatthew. 

Fantasy Hockey Advice - Dec. 29

Del Zotto's fantasy value is rising fast

Since I have a strong track record playing fantasy hockey and am a sports stats junkie, here's what I believe will become a regular foray into providing strong NHL players to pick up, trade for or sell high on in your respective pools.

Michael Del Zotto - The book was out on this young defenseman a couple of years ago. However, a stint in the minors, coupled with a slow offensive start this season have tempered his stats to some degree. But, with each passing New York Rangers game, Del Zotto makes his case for being one of the top blue liners in all of fantasy hockey. According to the Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey tools at my disposal, Del Zotto is top point getter for all defensemen over the last month. So, if he isn't a free agent in your pool, try trading for him now and offering up perhaps an underachieving D in return. Sometimes fantasy owners will trade for a big name over a currently performing player.

Roman Josi - Josi is more of a risk than Del Zotto, to watch out what you give up for him. Chances are he's a free agent in your pool. With Shea Weber now out due to concussion problems, the Nashville Predators will have to rely heavily on him and recently called up Ryan Ellis. While Ellis is a first round pick, Josi was highly touted as well and does have a few points already in a baker's dozen games in the National Hockey League thus far. With Ryan Suter and Weber still unsigned, Josi could also see his ice time explode after the trade deadline on the outside possibility the Preds jettison the two studs.

Mike Ribeiro - The Dallas Stars are sorely in need of Ribeiro continuing the production they've seen from him over the last couple of weeks. The smallish center is on a role lately, with seven points in his last 14 days, including a game-winner and a power play goal. He'll never light it up, but he's a reliable assist man when he's on his game. The Stars have enough wingers to continue to allow Ribeiro rack up decent point totals. If you're scrambling at center, Ribeiro may be available in many pools in a trade, as his season totals are not very impressive.

Petr Sykora - An oldie but a goodie, Sykora has been paired for most of the season with Patrick Elias. The result has been a rejuvenation of the Czech player's career. He wasn't even in the NHL last season! Sykora has 21 points in 36 games for the New Jersey Devils and is only owned in five percent of Yahoo! Hockey pools. Crazy. As a RW player, he offers value at a position that isn't always easy to find decent free agents in midseason. Sykora has  seven points over the last couple of weeks, including two game-winners. His ceiling is about where his current stretch is, but he could be a nice fill-in for injuries.

Marian Gaborik - I have nothing negative to say about Marian Gaborik. The veteran Rangers sniper has been outstanding this season, leading the league in scoring with 22 goals. However, with his penchant for getting serious injuries, I advise you to sell high if you can. You can get quite the bounty for Gaborik right now and he'll never be worth more. Do you really think he'll continue to go against his career trend of missing substantial amount of games? If you could use more depth on your fantasy hockey team, I say explore the trade route on this superstar.

I would love to hear your thoughts on these evaluations.

You can follow me on Twitter @gamepointsradio