from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

Two weeks after the joint NHL-NHLPA competition committee met in New York, the Players' Association held firm on its push for the NHL to jump directly to a five-minute overtime featuring 3-on-3 play.

The original recommendation from the NHL was to follow the AHL's model of a 4-on-4 overtime which is not only two minutes longer, but slides to 3-on-3 after three minutes of play. The AHL was able to decide approximately 75 per cent of its games last season which went past regulation without the need for a shootout, up from 35.3 per cent in 2013-14.

The NHL's general managers relented on Tuesday during their meeting, recommending a change to 3-on-3 for next season. That rule change is expected to be formally approved by the Board of Governors when they meet here on Wednesday.

The Board of Governors will likely also rubber stamp the addition of a coaches' challenge for offside and goaltender interference calls.

"Our managers were willing to accept 3-on-3, hoping that it will bring more results in overtime than we've got right now," NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said. "I'm not sure. It will be interesting to see what the coaches do with it."

Last season, only approximately 45 per cent of the games extended beyond regulation were decided in overtime.

Desperate for a change, the NHL wasn't keen on approving an untested rule change for next season, particularly after hybrid icing was met with mixed results following a short preseason proving period. But the belief is the NHLPA pushed for either full 3-on-3, or no overtime change at all for next season.

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