Despite his team's 1-5 record in overtime games this season, Wild coach Mike Yeo remains a fan of the new three-on-three format — with one qualifier.
"I think it's good for the game,'' he said Tuesday, after a practice at Xcel Energy Center. "It's a lot of fun when you win, and it stinks when you lose.''
With the fun nights few and far between, Yeo and his players spent time Tuesday brushing up their three-on-three play. Monday's 2-1 overtime loss at Colorado again demonstrated how tricky it can be to change lines in the new format. With players racing up and down the ice, and missed scoring opportunities frequently creating odd-man rushes in the other direction, skaters can get stranded on long shifts and beaten by an opponent with fresher legs.
Ryan Suter and Mikko Koivu both found themselves in that spot Monday, as the Wild continued to struggle with the art of the overtime line change. The solution, Yeo and his players agreed, will come with more practice, more awareness and more experience.
"We're not the only ones,'' Yeo said. "We've seen a lot of teams give up goals and chances on line changes. It's something we have to continue to be mindful of.
"It's going to be hard to perfect. It's [happening] in real time, and there are hockey plays going on. We have to practice it, and it's up to us as a staff to do everything we can to see if we can get an advantage anywhere.''
Making efficient line changes in overtime requires quick thinking and keen assessment. Winger Jason Zucker called it a "big key'' to overtime success, and he and forward Charlie Coyle both said players must be ready to get off the ice a little earlier than they normally would to avoid getting stuck.
Coyle added that the Wild is learning tricks and strategies, such as using the goaltender to maintain possession of the puck and allow time for a change.