How World Cup of Hockey ties will be broken

With two groups of four teams, it’s entirely possible we’re going to see the World Cup of Hockey points standings knotted up before the elimination rounds.

So who advances to the semifinals and how?

The NHL, NHLPA and IIHF released that tie-breaker information on Thursday, and the process should be familiar to anyone that’s waded through the murky waters of the NHL regular season.

Now, as reader Brian noted, there is one rule to keep in mind, which is that if a team pulls a goalie in overtime there could be “potential forfeiture of their one point.” That’s a really interesting rule for a tournament like this — is that to prevent a team from laying down for an opponent, in a way that would benefit them?

As we’ve noted previously, it’s going to be interesting to see how teams approach the third period in close games during group play.

Are we doing to see conservative play in an effort to earn at least a charity point? Are we going to see one team – an underdog, if you will – go stones-to-the-wall in order to take two points and leave a team that they’re chasing without one?

And then, as there is in any short tournament where goal differential matters: Are we going to see teams pour on the offense in blowouts?

(Looking at you, Canada …)

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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