3-on-3 Overtime: Why it Will Help the Avalanche
Apr 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Jarome Iginla (12) celebrates his goal with center Matt Duchene (9) and defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) in the second period against the Nashville Predators at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
In a playoff race as close as the Western Conference’s is expected to be, every single point matters. The NHL’s new 3-on-3 overtime rule may help the Colorado Avalanche, who lost many games in the shootout last season, earn some of those important extra points.
In the 2014-15 campaign, the Avalanche missed the playoffs by just nine points. It is quite safe to say that a different overtime rule would not have changed that. However, the team is expected to get even closer to the playoffs next season, which is where 3-on-3 overtime could be the game-winning change.
Here’s a first look at what that 3-on-3 overtime can look like, or rather did look like in the AHL. It gives you a good impression of how much room players have, and what matters the most in those situations.
Next: 3-on-3 OT Purpose
3-on-3 Overtime Purpose
Jan 21, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) scores a goal past Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) in a shootout period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The goal of the rule change is the following, according to NHL.com.
The 3-on-3 overtime is designed to create more space on the ice, allowing for more goals to be scored and more games ending in overtime rather than the shootout, similar to the success that the American Hockey League experienced this season.
Over the past years, fans and team representatives have voiced their negative opinions on shootouts, stating that they turn a team sport into a one-man show. While that seems a little bit extreme, as there can only be one player scoring in sudden death overtime as well, it is true that the shootout turns the focus to a team’s goalie or shooter, rather than the whole team.
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The American Hockey League’s rule was slightly different. Teams started off with 4-on-4, before taking one additional player off the ice, if no goal was scored within the first three minutes of OT. The effect, however, was the same the NHL is hoping for now.
According to NHL.com, 75 percent of AHL games that were tied after regulation time in the 2014-15 campaign were decided in overtime. Therefore, only 25 percent of games saw the game-winning goal scored in a shootout. In the season prior to that, 64.7 percent of games that were tied after regulation time saw the game end in a shootout.
The NHL had 55.6 percent of games tied after regulation time heading into a shootout. While that number is better than the AHL’s, there is still a lot of room for improvement.
Next: 3-on-3 OT Tactics
3-on-3 Overtime Tactics
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A new rule often brings change in playing style — and this one is no exception. As opposed to 3-on-5 or 3-on-4 penalty killing, the primary goal of 3-on-3 overtime lines is to score, not to defend the own net. Therefore, teams in the AHL generally went with two forwards and one defenseman.
With only six skaters on the ice, there is a lot of room for everyone. What that means is that all players playing in 3-on-3 overtime should be good puck-movers, passers and shooters, while also having enough defensive skill to defend.
Imagine it like this. Two forwards and one D-man are put out on the ice, but at the face-off, you have one player in the circle and two at the blue line. On offence, the puck and players move around so much that either one of the three players should be able to make offensive plays, while also being ready to play defense in case of a turnover. On defense, all three should know how to block passing lanes and shots, while being ready for a breakout.
Next: Avs 3-on-3 Units
Colorado Avalanche 3-on-3 Overtime Units
Jan 2, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Daniel Briere (48) celebrates with center Matt Duchene (9) after scoring a goal during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The 3-on-3 overtime lineup can be broken down into one full-on offensive forward, one skilled forward with defensive skill and one two-way defenseman. Here’s why it will help the Colorado Avalanche so much. Well, they have some perfect players for the situations described above.
In Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche has two elite 3-on-3 overtime forwards, before they have even played it for the first time. They are the two fastest players on the team, probably the most skilled, and they know how to bury the puck in the net. Trust me, you don’t want to be this guy:
Next up are skilled forwards that are highly responsible defensively. Honestly, just pick two of Gabriel Landeskog, Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. You can’t really go wrong with any of them. All three are some of the team’s best scorers, while having great defensive hockey sense.
Player No. 3, a strong two-way defenseman. This is where it gets a little bit tricky, but certainly not impossible. Defenseman No. 1 is Erik Johnson — in 5-on-5 and basically anywhere else.
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Behind that, we have Tyson Barrie, one of the league’s best offensive defensemen. He could easily function as another forward in 3-on-3 overtime, but he can be shaky defensively. Francois Beauchemin is the other alternative, but his offensive skill is questionable.
If he proves to be ready for a bigger role in the NHL, Nikita Zadorov could quickly turn into a great D-option in 3-on-3 overtime. For now, however, it should be on Johnson and Barrie.
The result could be the following lines:
3-on-3 unit 1
MacKinnon — Landeskog
Barrie
3-on-3 unit 2
Duchene — Iginla
Johnson
Is that the best in the league? Probably not, but it can very well be up there. The Colorado Avalanche have the perfect combination of players for the NHL’s new 3-0n-3 overtime. Instead of losing games in shootouts, the Avs may earn many extra points this way.
Who would you put on the Avs’ 3-on-3 overtime units? Let us know in the comments!
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Next: Avs NHL 16 Player Ratings
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