Todd-Bertuzzi-11-12-13

If Ken Holland has his way, there will be fewer shootout attempts, like this one Tuesday by the Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi against Winnipeg's Ondrej Pavelec.

(The Associated Press)

DETROIT – Ken Holland’s quest to get more games decided in overtime, rather than the skills competition that is a shootout, appears to be gaining momentum.

Holland for several years has been pushing for expanded overtime in the regular season, from five minutes to 10 minutes. He put it on the agenda again Tuesday at the NHL’s general managers meeting in Toronto and said the reception was positive.

“There’s enough support to the point it appears there’s going to be some type of extended overtime than the current five minutes,’’ Holland, the GM of the Detroit Red Wings, said Wednesday. “People could change their minds, but certainly with (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman, the league’ hockey operations department and (many) managers, we have enough support to explore expanding overtime.’’

There will be further discussions when the general managers meet again in March.

Holland would prefer the regular five-minute four-on-four overtime be followed by a five-minute three-on-three overtime. All that open ice would lead to more goals, reducing the number of shootouts.

The Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks were the only clubs that voted against the shootout in 2005, when the NHL implemented it following the canceled season as a way to rekindle fan interest.

Despite their abundance of skilled players over the past eight-plus seasons, the Red Wings have been below average in shootouts, winning 38-of-81 (46.9 percent).

“We understand the shootout is here to stay, but the Detroit Red Wings believe we’d like more or as many games decided in overtime as opposed to a shootout,’’ Holland said. “(Expanding overtime) has been gathering steam through the years and finally it’s to a point where there’s enough support that we’re going to have further discussions in March. I don’t think it’s going to get to 10 (minutes), but seven or eight is certainly a possibility.

“Even if we stay four-on-four I believe we should have a longer overtime.’’

Ice condition is among the issues that needs to be resolved. Currently, the ice is not resurfaced before overtime, but they do a dry scrape before the shootout. A longer OT might necessitate a scrape after regulation.

Teams gain two points whether they win in overtime or a shootout, but it's more advantageous to win in OT because the first tie-breaker in the standings is regulation/overtime wins.

Holland: Goalie fights need to be abolished

The GMs also discussed whether goaltenders who instigate fights should draw a suspension. It has been a hot topic since Ray Emery of the Philadelphia Flyers battered his Washington Capitals counterpart, Braden Holtby, an unwilling combatant, during a line brawl on Nov. 1.

“We have a big investment in our goalies and we’re not paying them to be fighters,’’ Holland said. “We’re probably going to look into a rule whereby goalies can’t fight or if you do fight there’s going to some type of severe penalty or suspension.

“We’re paying some of these guys $5-$6 million a year; we don’t want them breaking a knuckle in a fight.’’