What Would You Do Wednesday: 3-on-3 Overtime

Welcome to the first instalment of What Would You Do Wednesdays of the 2015-2016 season.

Today we’ll be taking a look at the new 3-on-3 overtime format and what you guys thought about it.

This week, we’ve gotten our first taste of the new 3-on-3 overtime format that the NHL approved for the 2015-16 season back in June. The new format will be a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period and then a shootout if it remains scoreless. The 4-on-4 overtime has been completely omitted. Certain games throughout the preseason have been selected to automatically showcase the new overtime format at the end of regulation regardless of the final score. Last night, even though the Winnipeg Jets game against the Minnesota Wild was not one of those games selected to automatically showcase the 3-on-3 overtime, we were treated to it anyway.

The Jets and Wild were scoreless after 60 minutes of regulation and forced the game to 3-on-3 overtime. The game was pretty uneventful during regulation, despite a decent display of goaltending from both ends of the rink. Once it got to overtime, you saw the excitement level immediately skyrocket. We saw how easy it is for a team to get an odd man rush and how wide open the play is. The Wild ended up being the beneficiary on a nice finesse goal by defenceman Matt Dumba that beat Connor Hellebuyck high glove side in the final minute of overtime.

Now, of course, the 3-on-3 format will result in more games finishing in overtime, meaning less games go to the shootout. This way, people who don’t like the shootout are happy and the pro-shootout people, including the league. are happy as well. Still, I was a bit disappointed to see them completely omit the 4-on-4 overtime. I would much rather see a format like the AHL does, where you start 4-on-4, then go to 3-on-3 and then a shootout.

Personally, I’d like to omit the shootout entirely, but that’s just me. Yes it can be exciting to watch, but I have a hard time accepting the fact that a game that is so heavily reliant on teamwork is decided by a skills competition.

Anyway, that’s my take, now I want to hear from you guys.

I want you guys to give me your opinions now on the new 3-on-3 overtime format. What are your first impressions? Do you like it? Hate it? Don’t really care?

Also, if you were the NHL Commissioner, what would you do about the overtime format? Would you keep it how it will be for the upcoming season? Would you go back to just 4-on-4 and a shootout? Or would you adopt the AHL style?

Let us know. We want to hear from you guys. What would you do? GO!