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Goalie Marty Turco and Philippe Boucher of the Stars sit dejected on the ice after Henrik Sedin of the Canucks scored in the fourth overtime of an April 11 playoff game. Avoiding such marathons is the aim of changes to the playoff overtime format suggested by Bill Clement of MSNBC.com.

Finding a better way
Here's my plan for streamlining the playoff overtime format. Begin by playing a five-on-five 10-minute sudden-death overtime period. If the game remains tied the next step would be to change ends for another 10-minute session and go to four-on-four hockey -- just like overtime in regular-season games.

If no goal is scored, do a quick dry scrape of the ice and go to as many 10-minute periods of three-on-three as needed to decide the outcome. In this way fatigue won't become such a factor for both teams.

I'm convinced if these changes were made many games wouldn't even get to a three-on-three period, but if they did it would be a treat for fans because three-on-three hockey is some of the most exciting hockey played and nowadays there's never a chance to see it in the NHL.

As for penalties in this overtime format no team would play with less than three skaters so if the situation occurred where a team with three players on the ice took a penalty or penalties the attacking team would add players instead of the penalized team dropping below three skaters.

I understand the importance of not ending a playoff game in a shootout, and I'm not an advocate of shootouts in the postseason. The shootout is appropriate for regular-season games to deliver an entertainment value for television viewers and fans who attend games and to send the live gate home with something other than a tie.

Make these changes and playoff overtime games would end quicker and still be decided with the elements of true hockey -- players skating, checking, passing, and shooting.

Getting the NHL's attention
The number of multiple overtime games is on the rise. Through the first 59 playoff games this spring there were six of them.

As more playoff games go into multiple overtimes, the NHL will examine the current format. The commissioner's office is very conscious of giving the fans what they want, and also making sure there's the opportunity to cultivate new fans.

At this stage in the evolution of the NHL, the league will ask itself if its playoff overtime format is working in the best interests of the sport. The debate over whether a change is needed is growing stronger.

Brendan Shanahan and Martin Brodeur, two NHL stars who are both members of the competition committee, and Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff have recently made comments that it is probably time for change.

And the changes suggested here would be extremely fair, undoubtedly exciting, and universally appealing to everyone except those people who will resist change no matter what the circumstances.

There is something to be said about maintaining tradition in any sport, but when it comes to the NHL's playoff overtime format change can and would be for the better.

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Heading to the Cup finals

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front early in OT and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since '03. The new Eastern champs will face LA next.

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Highlights: OT goal delivers Devils to Cup finals

  Check out highlights as the New Jersey Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals by defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime.

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