Less is more.
That's what NHL general managers are clearly thinking in planning to make overtime sessions three-on-three, down from the league's current four-on-four setup, beginning with the 2015-16 season. According to ESPN, the proposal will need approval from the league's Board of Governors, who are scheduled to meet Wednesday, but their green light is considered a formality.
The idea behind the change is to reduce the number of games decided by shootouts. The 2014-15 NHL season had 170 shootouts, accounting for 13.8 percent of all games.
"I've said all along that as much as there's excitement for the shootout I'd like to see the games decided before the shootout if possible and this increases the probability," Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalanien told ESPN. "If it gets approved by the Board of Governors [Wednesday], I think it's a good change and we've seen evidence of a lot more games decided in the overtime with that change both in the American (Hockey) League and the Swedish league."
According to the same report, the league actually tossed around the idea of installing a hybrid OT period, which would start with four-on-four play, before shifting to three-on-three action during the final three minutes of the session. That's kind of a cool idea as well, but the players' union wasn't in favor of it; their thinking being it would wear on hockey's best players.
The shift to have three-on-three play in overtimes should result in free-flowing, exciting finishes on the ice next season.
Drop the puck and let's see it in action!
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