This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
With just one game on Sunday's slate, I figured today's article would be a good time to take a look at how the NHL's new 3-on-3 overtime format has been going.
In the 2014-15 season, 60 percent of games that were tied after regulation went to a shootout. This year, that number has been about halved. The new format has obviously succeeded in limiting the amount of shootouts played, and I think that is definitely a good thing. However, I just don't know how long it will last.
Today's NHL is extremely structured, with coaches aiming to minimize all mistakes and hoping that a moment of individual brilliance or some grinding in front of the net will put their team on their board. This mindset, along with enlarged goalie pads (and goalies themselves), are the main reasons why scoring in the post-2004 lockout era is so much lower than that in previous years.
It may not be in this season, or even the next, but I truly believe that NHL coaches will find a way to control 3-on-3 play, just as they did with 4-on-4 play before it. Teams that are being beat in overtime this season are typically victims of a bad change or tired legs, which both lead to odd-man rushes. Coaches will develop new systems to make sure they can keep fresh legs on the ice while making safe changes.
The new overtime format will be here for years to come, but make sure to enjoy the outburst of goals while you still can.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Panthers (Roberto Luongo) vs. Red Wings (Petr Mrazek), 2:00 PM
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News for Teams Playing Sunday
Florida Panthers
Dmitry Kulikov, D (lower body) - out another 1-to-3 weeks
Alex Petrovic, D (foot) - will miss a week's time
Detroit Red Wings
Johan Franzen, LW (concussion) - unclear whether he'll return this season
Kyle Quincey, D (ankle) - likely out until February
Hot
Jaromir Jagr, RW, FLA - Age just seems to be a number for the 43-year old Jagr, who has 18 points in 20 games this season. Jagr missed two games at the end of October through injury, and went pointless in his first three games after returning. Since then, Jagr has eight points in his last eight games, including the five-game point streak that he is currently riding.
Tomas Tatar, LW, DET - After scoring 29 goals last campaign, 2015-16 had the makings of a disappointing season for Tatar after he scored just three goals through his first 15 games. Tatar has followed that up by scoring five goals in his last eight games, bringing him to a projected scoring pace of another 29 goals this season. The young Slovakian has great hands in-and-around the net and seems to have regained his confidence in front of goal.
Cold
Brian Campbell, D, FLA - Throughout his career, the strongest aspect of Campbell's game has been his skating. At 36, Campbell's skating has begun to decline, and his play has suffered for it. Despite posting solid numbers of eight points and a plus-1 rating in 22 games for the year, Campbell has failed to score in his last five games, along with registering a minus-2 rating. Another worrying stat is the fact that Campbell put just nine shots on goal during that span.
Recommended Pickup
Dylan Larkin, RW, DET - This kid is living an absolute fairy tale. Born in Waterford, Michigan, Larkin was drafted by the hometown Red Wings 15th overall in 2014, then turned in a stellar season at the University of Michigan before making the Red Wings roster prior to this season. Anyone who saw Larkin completely take over games as a college freshman could see he had serious potential, but the fact that this potential has translated into NHL production this soon in his career is surprising. Larkin is a great skater, strong on the puck, has a high hockey IQ, and will continue to score if he remains in Detroit's top-six forward group.
