New AHL OT Rule Generating Buzz

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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.

Bryon Paulazzo - Winning Shootout Goal vs Michigan

s/t to Ryan Schaefer for giving me a heads up on this amazing shootout goal. First off, I know a lot of hockey purists are not big fans of the shootout, during the regular season I think it's a great way to settle a hockey game, but I would never want to see game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals settled this way. That being said, nothing pleases me more than watching Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick give up a goal, especially one like this.

KYPOST.COM --- Miami sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo scored the lone goal in the shootout as the RedHawks picked up the extra point after tying the Wolverines, 3-3 at Cady Arena on Saturday.

Paulazzo skated to the top of the crease and appeared ready to fire a wrist shot to the right of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick. Instead he pivoted, went to his backhand and lifted the puck over Hunwick for the shootout-winning top shelf goal.

Paulazzo’s goal came in the fourth round after all three skaters for both teams failed to find the net. After his acrobatic tally, Miami senior goalie Cody Reichard turned aside his fourth straight shot to end the game.

RDO camp will allow NHL to experiment with rules

Image via WikipediaNext week the NHL School will have another Research, Development and Orientation Camp so they can test potential rule changes, unfortunately there will be many of the same crappy rules the NCAA Division I ice hockey committee tried to ram down our throats last summer.

A few of the things I have noticed is that NHL wants to experiment with during their RDO camp; the NHL in their infinite wisdom wants to try the horrible No icing permitted while shorthanded, this is that rule where a team that is on penalty kill can’t ice the puck. The genius that came up with this rule should be rebuked and publicly scorned and the NHL should not enact this rule. The NHL also wants to go to a no-touch icing which is an awesome idea, because it would cut down on the amount of injuries that are suffered when two players rush to the end boards to contest an icing.

On the flip side, the NHL wants to experiment with the Hybrid icing rule as well. As college hockey fans saw last season there appeared to be no consistency in how that rule was called, you can only hope that the NHL officials can get that rule right if they decided to use it. Link to the Story on NHL.COM

Some of the rules that are being proposed

• No-touch icing
• No line change for team committing an offside
• Faceoff variations (penalty line for center committing an infraction; all faceoffs in circles; same linesman drops puck for all faceoffs)
• No icing permitted while shorthanded
• Verification line (additional line behind the goal line)
• Overtime variation (four minutes of 4-on-4 followed by three minutes of 3-on-3)
• Shootout variation (5-man shootout precedes sudden-death format)
• Shallow-back nets
• After offside, faceoff goes back to offending team's end
• Faceoff variations (both centers must come set on whistle; all faceoffs in circles; same linesman drops puck for all face-offs)
• Delayed penalty variation (offending team must exit zone in possession of puck to stop play)
• Changes only permitted on-the-fly (except after goals and upon manpower changes)
• Remove trapezoid
• Allow hand passes in all zones
• Overtime variation (switch ends)
• Shootout variation (5-man shootout with repeat players if tied after 5 shooters)
• Thin-netting nets
• 'Hybrid' icing
• Offside variation (offending team can't change and faceoff in its end zone)
• Faceoff variations (player encroaching can't replace thrown-out center, all faceoffs in circles; same linesman drops puck for all faceoffs)
• All penalties to be served in their entirety
• Strict enforcement of goaltenders covering puck outside crease (rule 63.2)
• Bear-hug rule
• Overtime variation (switch ends for four minutes of 4-on-4, followed by three minutes of 3-on-3)
• Shootout variation (3-man shoot out with repeat shooters if tied after 3 shooters)

Related articles

• NHL To Test Radical Rule Changes At Second Annual Research Camp (sbnation.com)
• What they'll be testing out at this summer's NHL Research & Development Camp (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• NHL rule changes (aol.sportingnews.com)