SB Nation Reacts: Leave the Playoffs Alone

This is SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NHL. Each week, SB Nation sends out questions to the most plugged-in Blues fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.

Through the first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs eight games went to overtime for a total of 13 OT periods. With all playoff games being played in one of two arenas, the extra play pushed back start times, even delaying games to the next day.

Despite the delayed starts and concern over quality of the ice after overtime games, fans don’t want any changes to the playoff overtime process. If there’s one thing hockey fans are known for, it’s being purists - we don’t like our hard fought games won by a lucky shot in a shootout. We want them won with a lucky shot in a six overtime game.

According to SB Nation’s latest Reacts survey, nearly 90 percent of fans want the playoff overtime format to stay the way it is.

Fans especially don’t want any playoff game decided by a shootout, as they can be in the regular season. Some fans still aren’t even sold on them during the regular season.

Those feelings come despite a much closer split on feelings about game quality. Only a slight majority of fans believe game quality isn’t being hurt by playing every game in the same arenas. I have a feeling that fans of teams playing in the late games in the West may make up a sizable bulk of that 44% who didn’t appreciate the quality of the ice or games.

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