New Overtime Format Set to be Added to the NHL After Recent Experiment
Photo credit: Sportsnet
The National Hockey League appears to be testing out a new overtime format at the 4 Nations Face-Off, which is taking place in Montreal and Boston over the next week.
After nearly nine years, international best-on-best hockey returned on Wednesday night with Elias Pettersson and Team Sweden taking on Sidney Crosby and Team Canada at the Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens.
NHL testing new overtime format at 4 Nations Face-Off
Last night's game between Canada and Sweden was some of the best hockey fans have seen in quite some time and it started with a powerplay goal by Nathan MacKinnon, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid less than a minute into the first period.
Canada would go on to take a 3-1 lead, but Tre Kronor bounced back, scoring twice in the third period to force overtime.
Fans were treated to more 3-on-3 action as the National Hockey League opted to go for ten minutes in the overtime period in the tournament, rather than five.
Just over six minutes into overtime, Canadian forward Mitch Marner fired home the game winner past Filip Gustavsson to give them their first victory of the tournament.
After the game, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, among other members of Team Canada, met with the media and were asked about the 10 minute overtime period and if it's something the National Hockey League should adopt in the regular season going forward.
Connor McDavid seemed interested in this new format, saying that it's a good trial run right now at the 4 Nations Face-Off and that no one would've wanted to see a game like the one against Sweden go to a shootout.
"McDavid says the 10-minute overtime is a good "trial run" for NHL games because nobody wanted to see this go to a shootout." Michael Russo of The Athletic said.
Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon felt the opposite saying "no thanks" to 10 minute overtime in the NHL, adding that seven minutes at most would be enough.
MacKinnon mentioned that he was exhausted during overtime and thinks most star players in the league wouldn't want a 10 minute 3-on-3 format.
"Nathan MacKinnon said no thanks to the idea of 10 minutes OT coming to league play. Seven minutes at most, he said.
Said he was absolutely gassed tonight.
And I think most star players feel the same way." TSN's Pierre LeBrun said.
Said he was absolutely gassed tonight.
And I think most star players feel the same way." TSN's Pierre LeBrun said.
An increase to the length of overtime in the National Hockey League's regular season is desperately needed, whether it be seven or ten minutes, as fans are tired of seeing games end in a shootout.
The shootout was a neat idea by the National Hockey League when they returned from a lockout 20 years ago, but over the years it's gotten quite stale and an increase to 3-on-3, even by two minutes at minimum, would push the shootout to near extinction.
Previously on CanucksDaily
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