NHL’s New 3-On-3 OT Format Is Just Fine To Bruins Players, Management

BOSTON — The NHL has switched to a 3-on-3 overtime format for the upcoming season, and Bruins management and players have given it positive reviews.

“I think it’s an exciting part of the game,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said at Thursday’s media day at TD Garden. “We saw the impact it made last year at the AHL level, where the vast majority of games, 75 percent, I think, were completed in overtime rather than the shootout. The shootout will be there if needed, but I think the players are excited about it.

“(Coach) Claude (Julien) has spent a lot of time in practice preparing the players to be put in those situations. … The players themselves have been excited about the change, and adapting to seeing you have a chance at one end and if you miss, if the goalie doesn’t have Velcro on him, there will be a chance going the other way.”

The change to 3-on-3 instead of 4-on-4 for five minutes largely was designed to lessen the amount of games ending in shootouts.

Shootouts are fun for the fans, but a lot of players, coaches and team executives aren’t supporters. Entering Thursday night, 33 of 44 preseason games, or 75 percent, had ended in 3-on-3 overtime (every preseason game has gone to OT regardless of the score).

“I’ve never been a huge fan of the shootout,” Bruins president Cam Neely said. “Anything we can do to get rid of the shootout is fine by me.

“I like the fact that Claude has tried a few different things, whether it’s three forwards, or two forwards and a D. I think it’s important for us to try those things. Line changes are going to be important, and making sure you hit the net. We’ve seen a play go the other way, and the game ends pretty quick.”

The players, including Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, seem to be unanimous in their approval of 3-on-3.

“I do (like it),” Bergeron said. “It’s really wide open, there’s lots of space out there. If someone loses his coverage, we’ll see a lot of 2-on-1s and breakaways. I like it, I think it’s going to be exciting, but it’s going to be a lot of work and ground to cover for us on the ice.”

The open ice suits the fast, highly skilled players, and the Bruins have several of them on their roster this season. One of them is second-year right winger David Pastrnak, who scored a 3-on-3 overtime goal against the Washington Capitals in the Bruins’ second preseason game.

“It’s great, especially for a player like me,” Pastrnak said. “It’s a lot of open play and space, I really like it. I did it last year in Providence, and it’s a lot of fun. You have to be very smart and make the right decision. It’s something new, and it’s going to be cool.”

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images