New York Rangers center Derick Brassard, left, and Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli battle for the puck during the second overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles.Mark J. Terrill/The Associated Press
As expected, the NHL's board of governors rubber-stamped a major rule change Wednesday that will see five-minute overtime periods altered from the current four-on-four format to three-on-three. The decision, to be implemented for the coming season, follows a recommendation from NHL general managers, who want to reduce the number of games decided in a shootout.
In March, when the GMs met to ponder tweaks to overtime, they considered the system that had been used in the American Hockey League this past season – a seven-minute overtime period with four minutes of four-on-four play to start and then three minutes of three-on-three. However, that proposal could not get past the competition committee.
Faced with the prospect of no change whatsoever, the board opted for full three-on-three.
The board also agreed to expand the use of video review to include a coach's challenge that will be limited to two scenarios – goals scored on plays which the defending team believes were offside, or if goaltender interference was possibly involved in the play. A team can only request a challenge if it still has its timeout available. If the call is overturned, the team keeps its timeout; if not, it forfeits the timeout.
The only exceptions are in the final minute of the third period and at any point in overtime, when the NHL's Toronto-based hockey operations personnel can initiate a review that would otherwise be subject to a coach's challenge.