In an effort to try and reduce the number of games decided by a shootout, the NHL's general managers opted Tuesday to move next season to a five-minute overtime session with three skaters a side from four.

The plan will need the approval of the NHL's Board of Governors, who will meet Wednesday in Las Vegas in advance of the NHL's annual awards ceremony but that approval is considered a formality.

"I've said all along that as much as there's excitement for the shootout I'd like to see the games decided before the shootout if possible and this increases the probability," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen told ESPN.com after the GMs' meeting broke Tuesday afternoon.