Ian Maddox for The Washington Post via Getty Images
The NHL switched to a 3-on-3 overtime format ahead of the 2015-16 season in the hopes of reducing the number of games decided by a shootout. However, Skip Bayless was apparently not aware that was the case when you consider he urged the league to adopt that format while watching the Winter Olympics.
The 2026 Winter Olympics marked the first time NHL players were able to compete since 2014, and on Wednesday, we were treated to one of the best days of hockey that’s unfolded in recent memory during the quarterfinal round.
Slovakia cruised to a 6-2 win over Germany, but that was the only contest on the schedule that didn’t feature much drama. It looked like Czechia might be able to pull off a massive upset and send Canada home, but the latter was able to force overtime before Mitch Marner clinched the 4-3 win after dissecting the defense.
Finland also had to rally from a 2-0 deficit with around six minutes to go in the third period en route to a 3-2 victory in OT, and we got even more free hockey when the United States and Sweden ended up tied at a goal apiece at the end of regulation before Quinn Hughes emerged as the hero to keep America’s gold medal hopes alive.
The 3-on-3 format was a big reason none of those games went to a shootout, and while most NHL fans are familiar with that game-deciding configuration, Skip Bayless managed to expose himself as a bit of a fraud after he couldn’t resist the urge to fire off a pithy tweet following Team USA’s victory.
Skip Bayless thinks the NHL should switch to 3-on-3 overtime, which would be a great idea if it hadn’t done exactly that over a decade ago
NHL games have not been able to end in a tie since the shootout was introduced ahead of the 2005-06 campaign. It was a somewhat controversial change at the time that ultimately aged pretty well, but there was still plenty of grumbling about the frequency with which what essentially amounts to a skills competition was used to determine which team got an extra point.
In 2015, the league addressed those complaints by abandoning the 5-on-5 five-minute overtime period for a 3-on-3 showdown that opened up the ice and dramatically increased the number of scoring chances. It’s still a bit gimmicky due to the emphasis that’s placed on possession (the push for a “no return” rule has started to gain some traction), but it’s still a pretty solid compromise that tends to inject plenty of excitement into OT.
The IIHF, the governing body that oversees hockey at the Winter Olympics, also decided to go the 3-on-3 route in 2017, which means the 2026 Winter Olympics are the third time that format has been in place. That overtime period lasts for ten minutes before the shootout is triggered—with the exception of the gold medal game, which is 3-on-3 until someone scores.
Bayless has never really positioned himself as a huge Hockey Guy during the decades he’s spent as a columnist and talking head, but you would think someone who prides themselves as being an authority on sports would still be aware of the basic rules of one of the “Big Four” leagues.
However, he told on himself while reacting to America’s win over Sweden in a tweet where he stated “3-on-3 is much more fun to watch” before capping it off with “Listening, NHL?” which led to him being ratioed and roasted into oblivion by actual hockey fans who were more than happy to let him know about his error.
WE WIN IN OVERTIME. USA beats Sweden in Olympic hockey. You know, 3-on-3 is much more fun to watch. More open ice. More 1-on-1 shots on goal. Less lucky-bounce high-traffic goals in front of net. Listening, NHL?
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 18, 2026
There was already plenty of evidence to suggest Skip has lost his fastball, and I guess we can add some more to the pile.