Everyone has the right to their opinion, but these days, with social media, it seems like everyone, regardless of whether they cover hockey, has an opinion on three-on-three overtime to determine a gold medal at the Olympics.
Haven’t watched much of the Olympics, and I’m obviously late on this. But 3 v 3 overtime for a medal, nonetheless a gold medal, is patently insane.
— Gareth Wheeler (@GarethWheeler) February 19, 2026
3-on-3 overtime to decide who medals is diabolical
— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) February 19, 2026
3 on 3 overtime for a gold medal is wild
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) February 19, 2026
The Great Debate: Should the NHL Extend 3v3 Overtime to 10 Minutes?
The debate was reignited after Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the Gold Medal in the women’s hockey tournament. This was the fifth straight overtime game at the Olympics to be determined by the three-on-three overtime format. Three men’s quarterfinal games, as well as the bronze medal and gold medal games in the women’s tournament.
Well, let’s be honest, the same people complaining about three-on-three overtime would be the same people who would complain had a gold medal been decided by a shootout. That is why the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation), not the IOC (International Olympic Committee), changed their rules governing International Hockey.
Back in 2019, the IIHF changed their overtime rules, introducing three-on-three overtime for all games. Five minutes in all preliminary games, with the time increasing to 10 minutes for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Before that, all International Games featured preliminary games played at three-on-three, while playoff games were four-on-four overtime before going to a shootout. The idea of going to 20-minute continuous three-versus-three overtime was to eliminate the Gold Medal Games from being decided in a shootout.
Commissioner Gary Bettman Says No To Expanded 3 v 3 Overtime
And who wants that? A skills competition to determine the Gold Medal, or any playoff game, in the Olympics, World Championships, or World Juniors, is not ideal. That isn’t hockey. Three-on-three overtime is a chess match. It is hockey for those who know how the roller version of the game is played.
It is easy to say, well, the NHL wouldn’t determine the Stanley Cup winner in three-on-three overtime. That is true, but the NHL isn’t changing the overtime rules anytime soon. As we have seen, the NHL plays five-on-five, continuous, sudden-death overtime to determine a Stanley Cup Playoff winner.
It is fun to watch in the first overtime and even the second overtime, but after that, the gameplay really deteriorates. Those looking for a highlight reel goal can go back to the women’s Gold Medal Game between Canada and Team USA, where Megan Keller scored the Golden Goal, a rare sight. Usually, it is an ugly goal where the puck goes off a stick, leg, skate, or another body part.
So to do that at the Olympics would be tough given the schedule. Remember, the semifinals and the Bronze Medal Game are played back-to-back, so asking these professionals to play continuous overtime in back-to-back rounds would be tough. Not to mention the Gold Medal Game is played the day of the closing ceremony.
The Most Dangerous Player For Canada and Finland at the Olympics
Some of the NHL Players will want to attend the ceremony before heading back to their respective clubs to resume the season this week. Ideally, the IOC would change the games’ schedule and have the bronze medal and Gold Medal games played on the same day, as in women’s hockey. You see it in other IIHF tournaments: the two medal games are played on the same day.
However, ending the game sooner rather than prolonging it is the right call. And for those who cover the game and even the casual fans that watch every four years and don’t watch all season or only parts of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, watch the World Juniors, World Championships on women’s and men’s side, because these rules wouldn’t be foreign to you.
Since the rule change in 2019, four gold medals have been decided in this format, including Team USA ending its 92-year drought at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, defeating Switzerland 1-0 on Tage Thompson‘s goal in three-on-three overtime.
In addition, three gold medals have been decided at the Women’s World Championships, as well as three Gold Medal Games at the World Junior Championships, including Team USA in 2025. And let’s not forget this would have been the format had the NHLers gone to the Olympics in 2022.
The Most Dangerous Player for Team USA and Slovakia
And before anyone brings up the Four Nations Faceoff Gold Medal Overtime Game between Canada and the USA, that tournament was an NHL tournament with no IIHF or IOC input. That will be a similar case with the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
Three-on-three overtime is much more exciting than five-on-five overtime. Five-on-five can drag on, especially late in the overtime session, as teams look to reset for the next overtime period rather than try to score.
At least with three-on-three overtime at 20 minutes, you know the game will end. The IIHF got it right with this decision, but no matter how games end, people on social media will never be happy.
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