The IIHF is looking for ways to avoid having a shootout decide a medal-winning game. Darren Dreger of TSN.ca reported on Insider Trading officials are looking at different scenarios instead of the shootout.
“They’d look at that 20-minute overtime period,” Dreger said on Insider Trading.”Is it better to start five-on-five, play for 10 minutes, shift to three-on-three or 10 minutes. Maybe start with four-on-four for 10 minutes, shift to three-on-three for 10 minutes, to avoid the shootout, or at least curb away from it.”
The current structure in each round of tournaments has a select amount of overtime time followed by a shootout. The format was used in the United States 5-4 win over Canada at this year’s World Juniors. Many people complained it was unfair the shootout was used to decide a medal game.
The obvious solution seems to be playing continuous overtime until someone scores. Ending a game on a shootout is abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying. It’s why the NHL has shifted to 3-on-3 overtime in the hopes of deciding regular season games without the gimmick.
With continuous overtime, whether that be 5-on-5, 4-on-4 or 3-on-3, the game has to end on a goal. There’s no better moment in International tournaments than seeing a golden goal in overtime. Continuous overtime would ensure that result.
So let’s get rid of the shootout and just allow overtime to continue. It’s a simple resolution. Get it done IIHF.
[theScore]
