New AHL OT Rule Generating Buzz

View image | gettyimages.com

I like the new overtime rule that the American Hockey League is using. Apparently, the fans seem to like it and the new rule is generating a lot of attention. It will be interesting to see if the NHL adopts this rule.

PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer -- Currently, the NHL uses a 4-on-4 OT model for five minutes. If no one scores, then it goes to a shootout.

But here's how the extra period works on the AHL level: It's seven minutes long - or until someone scores, of course - with the opening three minutes 4-on-4. Then, after the next whistle, it switches to 3-on-3 for the last four, leading to lots of room for creativity and scoring chances. If that doesn't decide things, it goes to a shootout, a concept that drives many a coach bonkers since it's almost like a skills competition.

That's the thing, though. This new overtime system has cut down significantly on shootouts.

Last year, the AHL had 65 percent of its OT games decided in a shootout, Andrews said. This season, it's shrunk to 25 percent.

Even more, of the 99 overtime games so far, 35 of them have been decided in 3-on-3 action.

UND Hockey: Where are they now? Aaron Dell

Former UND goalie Aaron Dell was signed by the Abbotsford Heat played two games this past weekend and then was released by the Heat. You would think that Dell is going to get a shot and stick with an AHL team, eventually.

ABBOTSFORD, BC -- The Abbotsford Heat announced today that they have released goaltender Aaron Dell.

Dell, a native of Airdrie, Alberta appeared in two games over the weekend with the Heat registering a 0-1-0 record along with a 1.39 GAA and a .929 save percentage.

Jason Zucker Overtime goal

Can you imagine how good Denver would be if Jason Zucker was still with the Denver Pioneers this season. According to Michael Russo of the Star and Tribune, this goal by Zucker tied an AHL record for one of the fastest goals in overtime (five seconds). This was a goal scorer's goal as well, the goalie never seen it coming. Former UND defenseman Chay Genoway was also on the ice for Aeros as well when the goal was scored.

Marlies injury situation



Toronto Star

 Here is the latest on the Toronto Marlies injury situation. Sound familiar? Sounds a lot like this year’s version of the UND Fighting Sioux – major injury problems – as it stands now, it looks like it could be all in for Marlies as well. Those that can dress could end up playing for the Marlies. The Marlies won their series with the OKC Barons, but it looks like the series victory came with a high cost.

TORONTO -- Forwards Mike Zigomanis, Nazem Kadri and Matt Frattin and defencemen Jesse Blacker, Korbinian Holzer and Mark Fraser all skipped practice with various injuries while wingers Marcel Mueller and Carter Ashton skated, but not on the team's top four lines.

Though Eakins said it was a good sign to have Ashton and Mueller at the rink, he wouldn't give details of the injuries or a timeline for when anyone would return to the lineup.

"Right now, anybody that wasn't on the ice is hurt and they'll play when they're healed," he said.

Despite missing some of their top-six forwards, and their top shut-down defensive pair, an optimistic Eakins believes things could be a lot worse for Toronto.

"We've probably got four or five guys who are playing extremely hurt and for those guys not to pack it in is huge," he said. "I don't know what we would do right now without the guys that are totally hurt, and off the ice, and the guys that are just hanging in there."