Video: 1st Look at KHL’s New Overtime Rule — NHL Watching Closely

The KHL in Russia is testing out a new overtime rule in its junior league this season, and we got our first look at it coming into play this week. Players with the puck are no longer allowed to retreat back across their side of center, or a minor penalty will be called after the second violation.

We have our first look at the KHL's new OT rule during play 👀

Players can't skate the puck back into their own half of the ice without risking a penalty.

(via @khl_eng)pic.twitter.com/nHcDqRbOXU

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 6, 2024

Ever since the 3-on-3 OT came to the NHL, we've seen teams continually hanging on to the puck by cycling back into their half of the ice either to "reload" or to complete a line change and to organize another rush. 

With the new rule in the KHL junior league, the first violation will result in a faceoff in the offending team's zone, and every repeat violation will wind up with a two-minute minor being called.

The NHL will no doubt be watching closely this season to see how the change is working out. NHL senior vice-president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said last season, “We don’t mind the format; the one thing we don’t like is it that they have decided that possession is key, and you get those boot-backs, kick-backs all the time."

Those days could be coming to an end, if the junior KHL experiment provides positive results. 

And by the way, in case you were wondering in the above highlight how the score could be 4-0 in overtime, the KHL has your explanation:

This is a preseason game. Teams play full 60, then OT, then SO no matter the score.

— KHL (@khl_eng) August 6, 2024

In the preseason, teams play a full 60 minutes, followed by OT and then a shootout, no matter what the score of the game is.  

Photo: © Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports