LAS VEGAS: National Hockey League team general managers recommended Tuesday that owners reduce the number of players on the ice for regular-season overtime periods in order to reduce the number of shootouts.

The NHL Board of Governors is expected to vote Wednesday on a plan for 3-on-3 skaters plus a goaltender for each team rather than the current 4-on-4 plus goalie format used now, a drop from the 5-on-5 used in regulation time.

The move would begin with the upcoming 2015-16 season that starts in October.

Games in the NHL’s top developmental circuit, the American Hockey League, used the 3-on-3 overtime format for the first time this season and 75 percent of games were decided without going to a shootout, up from 35.3 percent the season before.

General managers had pondered stretching overtime to seven minutes, with 4-on-4 for the first three minutes and then dropping to 3-on-3, but the NHL competition committee was divided on that idea.

“We came out of the competition committee meeting with the players’ association and we talked about both formats, and they went back to their representatives and players, and I think the consensus with them and back to us was 3-on-3 would be the right way to go,” said David Poile, general manager of the Nashville Predators.

“We’re hopeful to have less shootouts. We felt almost unanimous that we would like to have more games ended in overtime versus the shootout. We got our wish. We got 3-on-3. I don’t know what the statistics are going to prove out, but I know there certainly will be less shootouts. This could be very exciting. It’s another tweak to the game that could be very fan friendly.”

The general manager also recommended expanding video review to include a coach’s challenge on what they feel is a missed offside call that leads to a goal. A coach would need to have his team’s timeout to challenge the call.

Club salary caps jump to $71 million

National Hockey League and players union officials announced Tuesday that next season’s salary cap limit will be $71.4 million (63.9 million euros) per club, a boost over last season’s $69 million limit.

The league also will have a new minimum payroll spending limit of $52.8 million with an adjusted midpoint of $62.1 million for the new season.

The news allows team general managers to begin deciding how to bring their rosters inside the financial framework for the upcoming campaign. They are meeting this week in Las Vegas.

Team officials can begin to discuss trades that could be completed at the NHL Draft this weekend or once free agency for the 2015-16 season begins on July 1.

“Everybody is sort of trying to get a real good solid view of the landscape ahead of each and every one of us heading into the draft,” Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said.


Hockey players open to an NHL expansion gamble in Las Vegas

If the NHL decides to gamble on an expansion franchise in the Nevada desert, most of the world’s top hockey players are cautiously optimistic that the ice wouldn’t melt.

The growing possibility of NHL expansion to Las Vegas is a popular topic among players and executives this week with the league in town for its postseason awards show and executive meetings. The league could even announce the opening of a formal expansion process Wednesday.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews is among several players who believe the league must make sure a team would work financially to avoid the problems of other Sun Belt franchises.

But many players believe Sin City’s glamor and growing population would make for a hit in the rink and off the ice.