<P> In many leagues ( including the NHL for regular - season games since the 2005 -- 06 season ) and in international competitions , a failure to reach a decision in a single overtime may lead to a shootout . Some leagues may eschew overtime periods altogether and end games in shootout should teams be tied at the end of regulation . In the ECHL , regular season overtime periods are played four on four for one five - minute period . In the Southern Professional Hockey League , regular season overtime periods are played three on three for one five - minute period , with penalties resulting in the opponents skating one additional player on ice ( up to two additional players ) for the penalty for the first three minutes , and a penalty shot in the final two minutes . The AHL , since the 2014 -- 15 season , extended the overtime to seven minutes , with the last three minutes reduced further to three men aside and teams getting an additional skater for each opponent 's penalty . The idea of using 3 - on - 3 skaters for the entirety of a five - minute overtime period for a regular season game was adopted by the NHL on June 24 , 2015 , for use in the 2015 -- 16 NHL season . </P>
<P> In many leagues ( including the NHL for regular - season games since the 2005 -- 06 season ) and in international competitions , a failure to reach a decision in a single overtime may lead to a shootout . Some leagues may eschew overtime periods altogether and end games in shootout should teams be tied at the end of regulation . In the ECHL , regular season overtime periods are played four on four for one five - minute period . In the Southern Professional Hockey League , regular season overtime periods are played three on three for one five - minute period , with penalties resulting in the opponents skating one additional player on ice ( up to two additional players ) for the penalty for the first three minutes , and a penalty shot in the final two minutes . The AHL , since the 2014 -- 15 season , extended the overtime to seven minutes , with the last three minutes reduced further to three men aside and teams getting an additional skater for each opponent 's penalty . The idea of using 3 - on - 3 skaters for the entirety of a five - minute overtime period for a regular season game was adopted by the NHL on June 24 , 2015 , for use in the 2015 -- 16 NHL season . </P>
when did nhl start 3 on 3 overtime
when did nhl start 3 on 3 overtime
2015 -- 16 NHL season
2015 -- 16 NHL season