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New OT format gets mixed reviews from Flyers

But the three-on-three is here to stay, as evidenced by its inclusion in the All-Star Game.

THE QUESTION posed to Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds was one that required, at the very least, an inclination in the direction of "yes" or "no."

Simmonds was talking with reporters after Thursday's morning skate about the three-on-three overtime format the NHL Board of Governors instituted starting with this season.

Does Simmonds like it?

"It's exciting. It's fun to watch," Simmonds said. "If you get trapped in your own zone, you're screwed.''

So, is that a yes or a no?

"I'm in the middle," Simmonds said with a smile. "I've had some good ones and I've had some bad ones."

That opinion seems to be a popular one around the league; some players love it and some don't. Among the people tasked with stopping pucks on whatever end the hectic action is moving, like Flyers goalie Steve Mason, the opinions are slightly different.

Mason had said earlier in the season that he wasn't a big fan of the new format, which has so far met the NHL's expectations of cutting down on the amount of shootouts.

"It's wild out there," Mason said. "Chances at both ends. You're on your toes the whole time. It goes both ways. You make a save, the rebound kicks out and the other team is caught."

That was after the incredibly fast-paced overtime session Tuesday night between the Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. Mason and Jonathan Quick stood practically toe-to-toe despite being separated by nearly 200 feet of open ice. They each faced five shots on goal in those five minutes, most of them Grade A opportunities.

"It's inevitable that chances are going to happen. It's kind of who breaks first," Mason said.

Entering Thursday, the Flyers, who notoriously struggle in shootouts, had gone past regulation seven times. Only two of those seven games reached a shootout. The Flyers were 1-1 in those two shootouts and 2-3 in games decided in the three-on-three overtime.

They better get used to the format. It's not going anywhere, especially not with the announcement Wednesday that the All-Star Game in Nashville this season will feature a new, three-on-three format itself.

The game, to be played on Jan. 31, 2016, will be replaced by a mini tournament featuring three games of 20 minutes in length. Each of the NHL's four divisions will send a team of 11 (six skaters, three defensemen, two goalies). The two divisions within each conference will play each other first and the winners will meet in the "championship game."

The winning team receives $1 million.

"We are introducing a creative new format this year in Nashville not only as a way to enhance the competitiveness of the event, but also as a vehicle to highlight and emphasize the incredible skill, speed and athleticism it takes to play our game," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement.

"That's probably more what it's meant for," Mason said Thursday of the three-on-three being in the All-Star Game. "It'll be interesting to see what the scores end up being in those games."

Simmonds was laughing as he predicted a score of something along the lines of an NFL game: "30-20."

"It's going to be pretty exciting to play and it's going to be pretty exciting for the fans," said three-time All-Star Claude Giroux. "It's up-and-down hockey and there's going to be a lot of skill in those games."

Giroux failed to convert on a breakaway chance Tuesday against Los Angeles as Quick was able to make a smart poke-check to break up Giroux' shooting chance. Giroux was in a scoring position after a tired Simmonds came off the ice, allowing the captain to come on.

Simmonds said line changes are crucial in the new format.

"You'll probably start seeing teams, if guys are tired and trailing up the ice, guys will just get off," Simmonds said. "Then they'll send the (new) guy right to the blue line. If it's a missed opportunity, the goalie makes a save, it's a breakaway the other end and a chance to win the game."

Slap shots

Steve Mason started his fourth straight game for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth returned in his backup role after missing Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury . . . Evgeny Medvedev and Vincent Lecavalier were healthy scratches as coach Dave Hakstol decided to stick with the same lineup and line combinations from the previous two games . . . Flyers center Sean Couturier played in his 300th game while defenseman Michael Del Zotto played in his 400th.