New York ? The NHL lockout that canceled last season came to an end Friday when the owners of the league’s 30 teams unanimously approved a labor deal that clears the way for play to resume in the fall.

“Today our board of governors gave its unanimous approval to a collective-bargaining agreement that signals a new era for our league,” commissioner Gary Bettman said at a news conference. “An era of economic stability for our franchises, an era of heightened competitive balance for our players, an era of unparalleled excitement and entertainment for our fans.”

It also begins the era of the salary cap – the very thing the union vowed not to accept when the lockout began. But a majority of players supported the six-year agreement in balloting Thursday, with 464 of 532 (87 percent) voting in favor.

“Let’s drop the puck on a fresh start and a wonderful future for the National Hockey League,” Bettman said.

No payroll will exceed $39 million or go under $21.5 million next season – including salaries, signing bonuses and performance bonuses.

And they will be playing under vastly different rules.

The biggest shakeup for hockey purists will be the institution of a shootout, to ensure that every regular-season game will have a winner.

Goalies will have to stop those shots and all others with smaller pads, which will be shrunk by about 11 percent. The width of the pads will be reduced to 11 inches, and the glove, upper-body protector, pants and jersey will also be smaller.

Not only is their equipment shrinking, so is the area in which goalies can go to play the puck.

The neutral-zone edges of the blue lines will be 64 feet from the attacking goal and 75 feet from the end boards in the offensive zone. That adds 4 feet in each zone, with the thought it will increase scoring – especially during power plays.