The National Hockey League has designated 45 games on its upcoming 2015 preseason schedule in which the participating teams will play a five-minute, sudden-death overtime period using the new '3-on-3' format -- regardless of the score at the end of regulation time. The overtime period will be played with each team at 3-on-3 manpower (plus goaltender).
This preseason mandate will provide all participants -- players, coaches, management and on-ice officials -- an expanded opportunity to test the new format in advance of its introduction to regular-season play when the 2015-16 NHL season opens on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Preseason games tied at the end of regulation will use the same extra-time procedure as during the regular season -- a five-minute, sudden-death overtime period using the new 3-on-3 format, followed, if still tied, by a shootout.