Potential Changes to Hockey Overtime

Some general managers in the league are looking to implement new rules for regular season overtime games. Currently, overtimes are 3 on 3 for five minutes, and then a shootout to determine the winner if there are no goals scored in the OT period.

The rules changes could include a shot clock and preventing teams from taking the puck out of the other team’s zone to control the puck and get a change if necessary. 

The overtime rules used to be 4 on 4, but before the 2015-16 season, the league changed the overtime to 3 on 3. 

Here are the two ideas

Shot Clock 

A shot clock would be so stupid in my opinion. I don’t think it would make the game better or more competitive, it would do the opposite. One of the reasons you have 3 on 3 hockey is because open ice gives players good scoring chances. Having a shot clock can prevent teams from setting up in the offensive zone and with the shot clock ticking down you’ll see so many bad shot attempts. It would be like at the end of the game when a team is down by a goal and they just flick one on the net with 3 seconds left from the worst angle hoping to get a lucky bounce. 

Over and Back 

The rule would not allow players to go back once they cross the red line or the other team’s blue line. This rule would actually be smart. In a full five-minute overtime period, there are probably at least eight occurrences where a player takes the puck out of the opposing team’s zone, curls back to their own zone, regroups, and then goes on the attack. It’s boring and kills a lot of time. 3 on 3 hockey should be constant fast-paced action none of this regrouping and waiting for the perfect time to start your offense. 

My Solution 

All and all I think it should just be 5 on 5 hockey in overtime for 10 minutes. This would eliminate any shot clock issue or over-and-back issues and it would be an acceptable amount of time for both teams to score before going to a shootout.  Playoff overtimes are 5 on 5 so I think it should just be a consistent thing for the whole season.