- source
- Mike Carlson/Getty
The 2015-2016 NHL season began Wednesday night, and it didn’t take long for the league’s new 3-on-3-overtime format to come into effect.
The Flyers and Lightning played to a 2-2 tie after regulation on Thursday, and the overtime period that followed was an absolutely bonkers, insanely fun few minutes of hockey.
Because 3-on-3 allows for so much more open space on the ice, the five-minute period is completely end-to-end, featuring odd-man rushes, breakaways, and a ton of scoring opportunities. It’s exhausting even to just watch.
The Lightning hit the post as a result of a 2-on-1 at the very start of the period.
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- via NHL
The play continued on the other end of the ice and resulted in a penalty shot.
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- via NHL
The overtime lasted jut 2 minutes and 17 seconds in total, and featured eight shots. That’s a lot!
“Crazy,” Lighting winger Ryan Callahan said of the new format afterwards. “I was having a heart attack on the bench.”
“Lunacy for 2:17,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper added.
With all three players attacking, quick turnovers leave nobody in position to get back and defend. Goalies are basically on their own.
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- Fox Sports
It’s still much too early to decide whether or not the 3-on-3 system is a fair one, or objectively better for teams than the old 4-on-4 method, or even how teams will handle it – will teams prefer forwards who can play good defense or defensemen who can score? What is clear, even after just 2:17, is how much fun this is.
Watch the full video below: