Does the NHL have an overtime problem?
This NHL season has been marked by an increase in games going to overtime, and once they get there, going to shootouts.
Several teams are being kept afloat in division and wild card races by higher-than-usual totals of points earned for overtime and shootout losses.
It’s also bringing more attention to the changes in the way three-on-three overtime is played, as many teams have ditched the high-octane style that featured speed and an abundance of scoring chances for a more calculated, possession-driven strategy that lends itself to a much less exciting product.
Notably, the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets played a full five minutes of three-on-three overtime with just one shot on goal between the two teams in a game that had plenty of playoff implications in the East.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL video coach Steve Peters discussed whether or not the 3-on-3 overtime format is growing stale and not doing the best job of reflecting the true quality of teams in the standings.
Tyler Yaremchuk: One more quick topic… Petey, there was a game that stood out to you this weekend for, we’ll call it all the wrong reasons. The Blue Jackets and Flyers combining for just one shot in what we’ll call an overtime snoozefest on the weekend. It was also a 1-1 game, so there wasn’t a ton going on. Just looking into some of the numbers this season. Already at this point… we’ve already gotten 20 more shootouts this year than we had last year. Do you think the NHL has an overtime problem?
Steve Peters: I do, and I think when they brought in the 3-on-3, the intent was to have exciting, end-to-end rush chances, back-and-forth, and it was that for a while before teams and coaches started to defend. Coaches tried to figure out the best way to take advantage; it’s better to take the puck back and maintain possession of the puck than it is trying to score off the rush continuously. There is a problem, and I think fans want to see… 3-on-3 that [they] want to see end-to-end. [They] want to see exciting hockey. I do think they need to make a change. The shootout shouldn’t decide games as much as it is doing right now, and I hope that the league takes a look at this. I know they probably won’t… but I do think fans deserve a better product.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…