Overtime in hockey is one of the most heart-pounding things you can experience in sports. There’s nothing like a win-or-go-home situation where the next goal wins it all.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, overtime rules are slightly different than what NHL fans have experienced in recent years. Now that we’re in the gold-medal game, if the contest is tied after 60 minutes of regulation, there will be a 20-minute overtime period played at 3-on-3.
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After the 20-minute 3-on-3 overtime period if the score is still tied, there will NOT be a shootout to decide the winner. You’ll recall that T.J. Oshie was the star of the shootout for the United States back in the 2014 Winter Olympics, but that won’t happen this time.
All of that gets thrown out the window in the gold medal game, where we return to the typical 20 minute overtime periods, but instead of 5-on-5 hockey, it stays at 3-on-3. There are 15 minute intermissions between periods and play continues until the first team scores.
Now you know!
This article originally appeared on For The Win: What are overtime rules for hockey gold medal game at Olympics?
