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Dallas Stars: NHL Planning On Experimenting With 3-on-3 OT

By Josh Clark |

Rumors began to swirl Wednesday afternoon about the NHL’s plan to experiment with all teams in the upcoming 2015 preseason.

Since early June 2015, the entire league has been conversing about the possibility of moving to a 3-on-3 overtime format for all games sent into extra time. The NHL has stuck with a 4-on-4 scenario for extra time, but could very well be changing the rules in the near future. The majority of coaches, players, and fans are fed up with the current scenario for overtime, considering that most games go to the shootout. Once a game reaches the shootout, it becomes a player-by-player battle instead of an entire team fighting it out together.

The AHL is the poster child for this new rule, as they adopted it just prior to the 2014-2015 season beginning. They saw the number of games that were tied and decided in overtime instead of a shootout skyrocket from 35.3 percent to 75 percent. The NHL sat at 44.4 percent this past season for games decided in overtime.

The idea of 3-on-3 overtime was approved by the NHL Board of Governors just days before the NHL Entry Draft back in late June, and it looks like they will finally be acting on it. The NHL is planning on introducing the system during this year’s preseason. USA Today Sports quoted NHL Deputy Commissioner talking about the setup.

“We’ve designated three preseason games per day where they will use 3-on-3 overtime format, regardless of what the score is at the end of regulation,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told USA TODAY Sports.

This rule is expected to cut down the number of shootouts in the NHL per season, bringing multiple games back to a more “team-based” fight instead of a “one-on-one.”

This rule could greatly influence the Dallas Stars. Last season, the Stars went 4-4-7-3 in regards to extra time (OT win-SO win-OT loss-SO loss).

Obviously the 4-on-4 scenario was not working in the Stars favor, considering they only won four games in OT and surrendered seven. That’s why bumping it down to 3-on-3 could definitely influence the Stars chances.

It’s not clear how Lindy Ruff would attack this new challenge, just like many other coaches. That is why the NHL is using this as a practice session so the coaches can see how their formations would pan out and which would produce the best results.

Ruff enjoys making things interesting on the power play. What he is best known for on the power play is taking complete advantage of his explosive offense. The Stars will line up with four forwards on the ice along with a single defender. It has taken some getting used to, but it looks as though the Stars are finally adjusting and becoming a force on the man advantage.

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So where would Lindy Ruff go in a 3-on-3 scenario with a team full of offensive talent up front as well as some promising and reliable defenders in the back. Does he go with a two forward, one defender setup? Or does he go with the one forward, two defender lineup? What about going with three forwards? To be completely honest, the options are numerous.

The first combo that comes to mind is obviously the “Super Line.” With Jason Spezza centering Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, a true force was formed that threatened the NHL. It was dissolved soon after its origin mainly due to lack of scoring through the other lines on the Stars offense. But in an overtime scenario, there is no need for spreading out scoring considering one will win it.

But the new and improved Dallas Stars club has more than just one option. Aside from the Super Line, there are a few more combinations among three forwards that could definitely work in the Stars favor. But going with a two forward, one defender system works just as well for the Stars in theory.

Imagine Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and John Klingberg lining up against any other combination throughout the NHL. Or perhaps Jason Spezza, Ales Hemsky, and Alex Goligoski? The opportunities are endless and Lindy Ruff can make it what he wants.

That’s why the preseason will be a great tool for Ruff and the Dallas Stars. Because if the 3-on-3 plan does come to fruition as early as this coming season, the last thing the Stars want to do is be behind. That could lead to a slow start, and we all know how the Stars do with those.

But with all of the options the Dallas Stars currently own, it might be difficult to find a lineup that doesn’t work.

Next: Three Things To Watch For In Dallas Stars 2015 Training Camp

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