The NHL introduced the shootout for regular-season games in 2005, beginning with the 2005–06 season.
The change followed the 2004–05 lockout, which canceled the entire NHL season. The league wanted to reduce games ending in ties and create a decisive finish for every regular-season contest. If a game remained tied after overtime, each team selected shooters for a best-of-three phase, followed by sudden-death attempts if necessary.
Before 2005–06, NHL regular-season games could end tied after overtime. The shootout was not adopted for the Stanley Cup playoffs, where games continue through sudden-death overtime periods until a goal is scored.
The shootout also changed the standings system. A team receives two points for a shootout win, while the losing team receives one point for reaching overtime. The format has remained a distinctive part of modern NHL regular-season hockey.