NHL Must Ditch Shootouts Now

The NHL's shootout gimmick has locker rooms grumbling for years, turning epic overtime battles into a coin flip that nobody loves. GMs whisper about it in back hallways, knowing it cheapens the game fans crave - five-on-five chaos until someone scores. With playoff positioning on the line this week, the league faces mounting pressure to scrap it before another regular-season snoozer decides the standings.