The Bruins look pretty good so far with the new 3-on-3 overtime rules
It was a moment you probably didn’t see live, but one that may be a telltale indicator of how the Bruins will find success this season.
Eleven seconds into overtime of Boston’s preseason game against the Washington Capitals Tuesday night, David Krejci fired a pass from the left face-off circle to the right, to a waiting David Pastrnak, who smoked a perfect shot past Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer to give the Bruins a 2-1 victory. The game was over in an instant, but the quick strike was far more significant than a single goal in a preseason game. This was the first time the Bruins experienced the NHL’s new three-on-three overtime rules, and the results were wonderful.
Three-on-three hockey is vastly different from four-on-four hockey — the previous overtime format. Fewer bodies means more open space on the ice, which means speed, and superior puck handling will be at a premium if a game ends up tied after regulation. Because there will be so much extra space, it’ll be easier to make dynamic plays, meaning games are more likely to end in overtime and not go to a shootout, which is a blessing for Boston.
Every Bruins fan knows they struggled mightily last year on their way to one of the worst shootout records in the NHL (4-10). What you may not realize, however, is that they were tied with Calgary for the league lead in overtime wins, with nine, meaning that if a team scored before the overtime period ended and a shootout began, it was likely the Bruins. Because games are more likely to end in OT with the three-on-three, the Bruins are in a good position.
Boston isn’t known for having an abundance of finesse players, but there are definitely enough young, skilled skaters to inflict some damage in a three-on-three. For the Washington game, the Bruins trotted out Pastrnak, the 19-year-old Czech right wing who is entering his second year after an impressive, 10-goal rookie season, in addition to Krejci and speedy defenseman Torey Krug. In a three-on-three setting, that group can match up with any trio in the NHL. Newcomer Matt Beleskey, veteran center Patrice Bergeron, winger Brad Marchand, and even young center Ryan Spooner all have elements of their game that could translate well to a three-on-three overtime. Thursday night against the Rangers, the Bruins began with Marchand, Bergeron, and Loui Eriksson — another formidable group.
Perhaps the Bruins realize they’re in good shape as well, because they praised the new format after the win.
“Hockey is such a team sport and, you know, with the shootout it turns into an individual thing to a certain extent,’’ center Chris Kelly said Tuesday. “I like the three on three so far.’’
“Things don’t go well every time,’’ said Pastrnak, who also scored the Bruins’ regulation goal, “But the thing is that we have to focus on playing good, three-on-three, holding the puck, and having good chances.’’
With the three-on-three format, the NHL also had to adjust the structure of power plays during overtime. Instead of taking skaters off the ice when a penalty is called, teams will instead add an additional skater. So if a Bruins opponent is called for, say, hooking during overtime, the Bruins will bring another skater on, making it a four-on-three. At no point will either team have fewer than three skaters on the ice, and if a penalty is called in the third period and carries into OT, the period will begin as a four-on-three. In Thursday night’s game against New York, each team had a power play opportunity in OT, but neither was able to find the back of the net.
Any changes will be welcome for the Bruins, who were a pedestrian 19-23 in one goal games last season. In shootouts, the team often looked hapless, shooting the puck well wide of the net, or right into the goaltender’s pads, but they did beat the Rangers in a shootout Thursday night. The three-on-three scenario should benefit the Bruins, and could even nudge their philosophy in a different direction, towards more offense and an emphasis on speed, but coach Claude Julien is quick to point out how the new action-packed format can be very unpredictable.
“There’s a good chance that those (overtimes) are going to end quickly because it doesn’t take much,’’ Julien said after Tuesday night’s game. “One two-on-one, one bad pass behind the guy and he’s skating in the wrong direction, they pick it up and go the other way. It’s not going to take much.’’
Regardless, it’ll be very exciting.
Photos: Unbelieveable images from the old Boston Garden
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