I'll admit, I was not sold when I heard that this rule change had been implemented. I have no idea why, but I thought the idea of three guys aside would be stupid. But seeing it in the preseason has completely turned me around. Breakaways both ways, constant two-on-ones. It's the most exciting type of hockey.
Shootouts were cool for like two years, then they got boring and completely played out.
Round 1: Save/Save
Round 2: Save/Save
Round 3: Goal/Save
Game Over.
Absolute snoozefest. But anyone who has played organized hockey knows that 3v3 one-zone games and battle drills were probably the most fun part of practice, and now that's being translated to the big leagues. Coaches will be playing their best, fastest players, and defense is going to go more or less out the window.
Just imagining the matchup possibilities for each team makes a hockey fan salivate. Chicago could put Toews and Kane out with Keith, then follow up with Teravainen, Hossa, and Seabrook. Pittsburgh can ice any combination of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Bennett with Letang or Matta on D. Even terrible teams like Carolina could toss out the Staal brothers or Jeff Skinner with Justin Faulk, and I'm getting actively excited thinking about Edmonton's options with all the young talent they have out there.
Plus, 3v3 OT is basically creating an entirely new specialty position. There have always been small, fast, talented guys in the league (Pat Verbeek back in the day, Marty St. Louis and Brian Gionta more recently), but now those guys might be called in to fulfill a specific role when the game goes to extra time.
Overtime is going to be more exciting, shootout frequency is going to drop, fans are going to get fired up, and offense will increase. Wins all around, if you ask me.
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