NHL general managers are trying to shoot down overtime shootouts

At best, the shootout is an entertaining gimmick that ensures that every ice hockey game has a winner.

At worst, the shootout isn’t real ice hockey, even though it decides one out of every seven NHL games.

Last week, the league’s general managers met in Florida and came up with a slightly alternative approach to overtime games – a 3-on-3 portion. It won’t eliminate the shootout but will, perhaps, cut down on its increasingly annoying frequency.

This season, the American Hockey League (AHL) is experimenting with it, expanding the overtime period from five minutes to seven. OT play begins with a 4-on-4 game (as is currently the NHL model), but when the first whistle stops play after three minutes, each team takes one skater off the ice.

If neither team scores after seven minutes, well, here comes the shootout. The good news is that the number of shootouts in the AHL has dropped from 15.6 per cent to 5.8.

A 3-on-3 game is still a gimmick, but it still involves passing, team play and something resembling defence.

In the AHL, 3-on-3 produces end-to-end play and multiple scoring chances.

The GMs came up with three versions, including the AHL model. The second version starts the 3-on-3 portion after a set time. The third version keeps the overtime at five minutes, but it is all 3-on-3.

Hopefully, the players and the owners this summer will approve one of the GMs’ recommendations and we will see it next season.

Shootout lovers will still have their occasional thrill, but for everyone else, less will be much, much more.

sports@thenational.ae

NHL general managers are trying to shoot down overtime shootouts

They came up with a slightly alternative approach to overtime games – a 3-on-3 portion. It won’t eliminate the shootout but will, perhaps, cut down on its increasingly annoying frequency, writes Gregg Patton.