PHILADELPHIA — This was certainly not the intended goal of the 3-on-3 overtime, but the hope everywhere is it’s only going to get better.
The Rangers and Flyers played their first of three mandatory new overtime formats in the preseason Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center, resulting in a goal-less slog. After the Flyers had won the game, 5-3, in regulation, the two teams still went out to test the new format, and there was nary a scoring chance.
The Rangers even got a power play that resulted in a 4-on-3 advantage. After the penalty was killed, the teams went to 4-on-4 until the next whistle, when it went back to 3-on-3. Without a goal after five minutes, the new rule would then send the game to a shootout, which was a reality everyone was spared Tuesday.
“My first [impression] from upstairs is that [line] changes are going to be real important,” said Rangers coach Alain Vigneault, who watched his second consecutive game from the press box rather than from behind the bench. “If the players want to extend their shifts during those 3-on-3s, they’re going to get caught, and you’re going to pay.”
The AHL played a similar version of overtime last season, playing a seven-minute period, with the first four minutes being 4-on-4, and following the first whistle after that mark, the remainder was played 3-on-3.
“I think it really brings out the offensive players and the guys with speed,” said Rangers forward Ryan Bourque, who played 73 games with AHL Hartford last season before making a one-game NHL debut with the Blueshirts on April 9. “It makes the game a lot of fun to watch for the fans. I think it’s a great move.”
Vigneault had asked some AHL coaches about strategy, and on an offensive faceoff during the 3-on-3, the Rangers sent out three forwards as opposed to the regular combination of two forwards and one defenseman.
“It was our first look at it, and the first time for a lot of our players,” Vigneault said. “We’re going to get better at it.”
The Rangers’ penalty kill struggled again, killing off just three of the Flyers’ six chances. The Blueshirts had killed just 2-of-5 in Monday’s 6-3 win over the Devils, so they’ve now given up six power-play goals in two preseason games.
“We’re trying to give some players an opportunity to get more experience on that,” Vigneault said. “A lot of our normal PK guys aren’t in the lineup right now, so it’s not something that I’m concerned about.”
Defenseman Dan Boyle remained out due to what Vigneault said was “a personal thing.”
“This is him that has to tell you what it is,” the coach said. “I can’t.”
Boyle’s absence resulted in Kevin Klein playing in back-to-back games.
Vigneault said the plan was for the team to make its first cuts Wednesday, with the “third team” of prospects likely to all return to juniors or wait for AHL camp to start. The Rangers have off on Wednesday and next play Thursday in Boston.
