Crazy OT Thought for the NHL...and maybe other leagues (RW77)

Overtime Power Play Face Off (Photo credit: clydeorama)

I was driving around, listening to the Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers game on SiriusXM and the Florida commentators (never got their names) were talking about the upcoming considerations regarding Overtime and the Shootout.

The growing opinion is that the shootouts are not popular among players and coaches because it takes away the team aspect of winning among other things.  Aside from the commentator having a ridiculous reason (airports close so their private jets cannot take off if the game ends, say, 10 minutes later than it would normally.  Ok, nothing prohibits the aircraft from taking off first thing in the morning?), they brought up a few ideas such as 3 on 3s or lengthening OT to 8 or 10 minutes.

I got a crazy idea.  And yeah, it's crazy.  Instead of doing a shootout, why not solve the game outside of OT via the powerplay?  If OT ends and it is still a tie, they resurface the ice and put two minutes up on the clock.  The home team starts off with a 4 on 3 powerplay for 2 minutes.  If the home team scores, the visiting team gets a 4 on 3 powerplay to tie it up.  If they don't score, game over.  If they do, they reset and move to 5 on 3 powerplay for 2 minutes.  I should say:  Shorthanded goals end the game immediately (sort of sudden death).  It's sortof a restating of the college football OT rules.

My original idea, which is you play 10 minute OT periods until someone scores, seems to no longer be ok, so what about this crazy idea?

Can you come up with a better idea?