A couple of recent articles analyzing the current state of 3-on-3, which has become a boring display of puck possession and reluctance to take a chance, lest it result in a chance against:
https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/ins...hl-3-3-problem
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So here are a couple of hopes and dreams for the revitalization of the 3-on-3 OT:
Install a play clock
This was an idea floated by Brian Burke back in 2019 -- such a sweet, innocent time before both the pandemic and the realization that overtime was boring. "The coaches have ruined it," he said.
So why not apply a shot clock like in basketball that mandates teams take an offensive chance within a certain period of time?
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Pray for ingenuity
We've all wondered what the brilliant offensive players of the past would have done in the 3-on-3 overtime. Could you imagine Sergei Fedorov with that kind of open ice and the ingenuity he could bring?
It turns out that ingenuity extends to head coach Sergei Fedorov as well. He's in his first season behind the bench of CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. On Dec. 2 against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Fedorov's team had possession of the puck in the 3-on-3 overtime. He decided it was time to make it 4-on-3 -- pulling his goalie with about two minutes remaining in the extra session.
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https://theathletic.com/3015585/2021...is-in-session/ (paywall)
Quote:
So, proposed rule change: During 3-on-3 overtime, the offensive team may not intentionally pass or skate the puck out of the offensive zone. Make it like over-and-back in basketball — once you cross the blue line, you have to stay in. Maybe somebody would actually try to score instead of just trying to keep possession of the puck.
I’m sure coaches would eventually ruin it, but maybe we could be entertained again for a little while before they do. – Adrian S.
Gentille: This is brilliant and ridiculous...
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When 3-on-3 first started, it was amazing. Now, it can be amazing, but the majority of time it isn't.
I always thought a great strategy was to cycle the puck, get the other guys tired, and then switch off your guys before the other team can switch off their guys (with the long change). Don't see that much anymore -- usually because teams don't want to lose possession and have all three guys stuck in the offensive zone. They'd prefer just to skate the puck out instead and keep possession.