{"id":89262,"date":"2026-02-22T12:29:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T15:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/olympic-ice-hockey-is-incredible-except-for-one-thing-matt-vautour\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T12:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T15:29:36","slug":"olympic-ice-hockey-is-incredible-except-for-one-thing-matt-vautour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/olympic-ice-hockey-is-incredible-except-for-one-thing-matt-vautour\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympic ice hockey is incredible, except for one thing | Matt Vautour"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n

United States’ Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin (21) after Larkin scored against Sweden during the second period of a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar)\u00a0AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Over about 34 hours, spanning from early Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon, sports fans were reminded of two things:<\/p>\n

1. <\/b>Olympic hockey<\/b><\/a> is amazing<\/b> \u2014 Three of the four men\u2019s quarterfinal games on Wednesday and the women\u2019s gold medal game on Thursday were each tied at the end of regulation. Not only that, the game-tying goal in each of those four games came with less than 3:30 left in the third period. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s the kind of thrills that create new hockey fans, because nothing matches the excitement of a Game 7 that\u2019s close and that\u2019s essentially what these were.<\/p>\n

2. Three-on-three overtime when the games matter is terrible \u2014 <\/b>When the NHL decided to get rid of ties after the lockout in 2004, it took several tries for them to land with the current format of three-on-three for five minutes followed by a shootout. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s gimmicky, but it means every game has a winner. For the regular season, it\u2019s fine. It\u2019s fun to watch occasionally, but not a true decider of who is better. But it\u2019s acceptable in the regular season.<\/p>\n

But in elimination games, it\u2019s awful. <\/p>\n

Three-on-three hockey is simply not the same sport. Physicality and toughness are pillars of hockey throughout the first three periods. But when the game is on the line, tough and physical players often get marginalized and aren\u2019t used in three-on-three OT.<\/p>\n

\n
\"APTOPIX
United States players celebrate after a women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar)AP<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Thankfully, the three-on-three disappears in the NHL playoffs, which are decided by real hockey.<\/p>\n

But in the Olympics, even in the medal round, three-on-three exists straight through the gold medal game. It\u2019s set up as follows:<\/p>\n

Current Olympic overtime<\/h3>\n

Group stage and preliminary medal round<\/b> \u2014 Same as NHL regular season. 5 minutes of 3-on-3 followed by shootout.<\/p>\n

Quarterfinals and semifinals <\/b>\u2014 10 minutes of 3-on-3 followed by shootout.<\/p>\n

Finals <\/b>\u2014 Recurring 20-minute periods of 3-on-3 until there is a winner.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a better version<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to concede one point to begin with. The NHL will never allow Stanley Cup playoff style overtime rules (five-on-five until its decided) in the Olympics. The players have to come back for a stretch run that will have many of the Olympians fighting for playoffs spots or seeds. The NHL is willing to expose their players to injury<\/a> to help grow the game, but there\u2019s a limit. They\u2019re not going to be O.K. with games extending to two or three overtimes. <\/p>\n

Plus the Olympics aren\u2019t built for it either. The same people volunteering at a game one night, might have other responsibilities at skiing or something the next day.<\/p>\n

So at some point there will be a gimmick. <\/p>\n

Group stage <\/b>\u2014 Same as NHL regular season<\/a>. 5 minutes of three-on-three followed by shootout.<\/p>\n

Medal round: Preliminaries, Quarterfinals and semifinals <\/b>\u2014 10 minutes of five-on-five followed by shootout. <\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Finals <\/b>\u2014 One 20-minute period of legit five-on-five hockey. In most games, this will be enough to crown a winner. Even if it\u2019s not, it was at at least a worthy attempt.<\/p>\n

After that they can start with either three-on-three period or a shootout.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Finals <\/b>\u2014 The women should play 5-on-5 sudden death until there is a winner. While the NHL isn\u2019t likely to risk its superstars to Stanley Cup playoff rules, it would be different for the women.<\/p>\n

The PWHL has a good product, but they\u2019re in the early stages of trying to get the attention of more and more sports fans. A classic USA-Canada matchup<\/a> that goes five periods would be outstanding to watch and and tremendous for the women\u2019s hockey and the PWHL. No reason to cut that off any sooner than they have to.<\/p>\n

Outtakes from a busy week<\/a>…<\/h3>\n

Baseball labor fight was already going to be ugly, now it might get uglier<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s too early to determine exactly how, but the MLBPA changing leadership this close to a seemingly inevitable work stoppage will almost certainly alter the negotiations. For good? For bad? Who knows?<\/p>\n

But a different general means a different battle.<\/p>\n

Tony Clark\u2019s replacement Bruce Meyer is a polarizing guy, even among the players, with a reputation for being combative. Meyer vs. Rob Manfred could be a scary matchup for people who just want baseball to get played.<\/p>\n

Neither guy has a reputation as a compromiser. It could get ugly.<\/p>\n

From the goalies are weird department<\/h3>\n

Bruins goalie prospect Michael DiPietro is a pleasant and engaging guy, but he had a request at the beginning of his interviews:<\/p>\n

Please don\u2019t mention any of his AHL stats to him. He goes out of his way to avoid knowing them.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t tell him, but they\u2019re really good.<\/p>\n

The Top 5<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Top 5 Players the Patriots probably aren\u2019t going to get, but are fun to daydream about<\/h4>\n

5 <\/b>\u2014 Alec Pierce<\/p>\n

4 <\/b>\u2014 Trey Hendrickson<\/p>\n

3 <\/b>\u2014 A.J. Brown<\/p>\n

2 <\/b>\u2014 Brian Thomas<\/p>\n

1 <\/b>\u2014 Maxx Crosby<\/p>\n

Real Jeopardy! Clue<\/b><\/a><\/h3>\n

Sports clues from actual editions of America\u2019s favorite quiz show. As always, mind the date<\/i><\/p>\n

CATEGORY: Hockey $400<\/b><\/p>\n

Date<\/b>: Oct. 26, 2025<\/p>\n

One theory on the origin of this Canadian insult word is with the losing team\u2019s task of spraying water to refresh the ice<\/p>\n

\u2014 Answer below<\/p>\n

Today in Boston Sports History<\/b><\/h3>\n

Feb. 20<\/b><\/p>\n

1929 <\/b>\u2014 Boston Red Sox announce they will play Sunday MLB games at Braves Field; Fenway Park located too close to a church (Source: On this Day.com)<\/a><\/p>\n

Lightning round<\/b><\/h2>\n