The NHL changed its overtime format ahead of the 2015-16 season, adopting 3-on-3 OT. The AHL and ECHL had used this format before the NHL decided to implement it in place of 4-on-4. If you played every NHL regular-season game under playoff rules — 5-on-5 overtime, indefinitely, until someone scores — it would increase ice time by only about 3 percent. NHL Overtime: the Strategy Has Changed. Prior to the 2015-16 season, the NHL announced that it was altering its overtime format from five minutes of 4-on-4 to five minutes of 3-on-3 in an attempt Puck Line. Definition: This is point spread for hockey. The spread is usually set at -1.5 or +1.5 for NHL matchups. This is one of the most exciting bets in hockey because you could win or lose Since the 2016 playoffs, there have been 3759 power-play opportunities in 589 playoff games, or 3.2 power plays per game. In the regular season over the same span, there have been just 3.0 power The first overtime game in NHL playoff history occurred over a century ago, on March 26, 1919, during the 1919 Stanley Cup final. The series pitted the NHL champs, the Montreal Canadiens, against The three-period system actually originates with those 15-minute intermissions. Prior to 1910, hockey games were played in two 30-minute halves. However, the constant buildup of snow and ice -- decades before a tinker named Frank Zamboni sought to improve the surface quality of the local ice rink -- led to rusting and could result in injuries Find live NHL scores, NHL player & team news, NHL videos, rumors, stats, standings, team schedules & fantasy games on FOX Sports. The NHL's current format sees teams tied after regulation play five minutes of 3-on-3 sudden-death hockey. If the score remains tied after that, the game is decided in a shootout. For the 2015-16 season the NHL changed their overtime format - now all games ending regulation tied are decided by a five-minute 3-on-3 period. If the game is still tied after the 3-on-3 period VCxSM9K.