Arizona Coyotes: New 3 on 3 Overtime Rule Will Help Them

By William Grigsby | Jul 19, 2015

Arizona Coyotes Overtime Record Will Improve With New O/T Rule

The last few seasons the Arizona Coyotes’ overtime/shootout record has come in at just 24 wins, 31 losses, and with the new rules they should improve on that record.

If you ask most NHL players they are becoming less and less fond of shootouts. If I were a NHL goalie, I would hate them. I mean, it is more of a one-on-one shooting contest, NOT a team competition. The new rule the NHL will put into affect this next season will change all that. After regulation time has transpired, instead of going to a four-on-four competition to break the tie, the rule was changed (for the better) to three-on-three competition. Then, and only then will the shootout be implemented if the contest is not decided in overtime. The AHL test of this rule (with different modifications) proved to reduce the shootouts significantly. Amen to that!

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I think this new rule will help certain NHL teams. The teams with skilled open ice skaters who possess speed and agility will see positive results from this new rule.

Which means the Arizona Coyotes should be one of those teams.

When you look at the possible 3 on 3 possibilities presented to Head Coach Dave Tippett, you can see what I mean.

Shane Doan – Mikkel Boedker – Oliver Elman-Larsson
Max Domi – Anthony Duclair – Zbynek Michalek
Tobias Rieder – Antione Vermette – Michael Stone
Martin Hanzal – Henrik Samuelsson – Connor Murphy
Joe Vitale – Boyd Gordon – Klas Dahlbeck
Kyle Chipchura – Brad Richardson – Nicklas Grossmann

If course these lineups can be switched around, and go according to which players are having a good game. And, HC Tippett does that with the best of them.

I just know with the speed in this lineup, the Arizona Coyotes would have an advantage over other teams regarding this new rule. And, as the Calgary Flames learned last season a couple extra wins here and there can catapult a team into playoff contention.

When I watched the 3 on 3 competition at the rookie development camp, I saw so much open ice, and the players with puck handling skills were able to work some magic passes, and find open players with ease. The other factor will be line changes, with only three skaters out there, they will tire quickly, and need a breather more often. A strategic line change could result in a breakaway, and the home team getting the last line change will have an advantage as well.

At the rookie prospect camp during scrimmages, the coaches had the players practice 3 on 3 to get used to the new rule. More goals were scored with this set-up than when they played 4 on 4. I think the coaches and players wanted to experiment to see what a difference it would make removing one additional player from the ice. It made gobs of a difference, and I feel it will increase the excitement of overtime.

With the past rules once a visiting team gets to overtime and rings up one point, they seem to slack off knowing they are at least assured of a point, no matter what the outcome. I think both teams play rather conservatively to avoid making a mistake. Take away another player on each team, and mistakes will be made which can cause the winning goal to be scored. It does add another element of strategy to the overtime period, and the NHL’s decision to go with it will be a big hit.

More than likely every team will go with two forwards and one defenseman, but not necessarily. If a team has a good defensive forward, say like a Boyd Gordon on the Arizona Coyotes, you could go with two offensive forwards, and a defensive forward. It opens up all kinds of possibilities.

So, fans be watching this upcoming season to see how the new overtime rule affects YOUR Arizona Coyotes.

The 3 on 3 will be awesome ! !

Next: GM's Recommend A Solution To Reduce NHL Shootout Games

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