Teams will play 5 minutes of 3-on-3 OT before heading to the shootout next year.
It's official - next year's overtime will look a lot different. The NHL and NHLPA have approved a new format featuring five minutes of 3-on-3 OT, replacing this year's five minutes of 4-on-4 OT.
Pending B of G approval, NHL will go to 3-on-3 overtime for 5 minutes in regular season games next season.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 24, 2015
The AHL played a format in which OT started at 4-on-4, then changed to 3-on-3 halfway through.