Men’s Olympic hockey final Sunday

When I said unfair, I wasn't referring to how it impacts the outcome, but more that it leaves half of each team sitting on the bench watching instead of playing real team hockey to determine a winner. To me - it's a gimmick only designed to ensure a quick resolution.
 
I have read all day the hockey purists complaining about the 3 on 3 in OT. I get it, I really do. But with this tight of a schedule with limited ice time that would have been difficult to go 5 on 5. And seeing as there are a ton of casual or non-hockey fans tuning in the 3 on 3 is more exciting with a wide open style and you reduce the possibility of a shootout which nobody wants to determine a gold medal.
 
NHL regular season OT:
- 3-on-3 sudden death play for 5-minutes, followed by shootout in case no one scores

NHL postseason OT:
- 5-in-5 sudden death play for 20-minutes, on repeat until someone scores

Olympics GOLD MEDAL OT (differs from previous rounds):
- 3-on-3 sudden death play for 20-minutes, on repeat until someone scores

My understanding is there are shootout possibilities prior to the gold medal game.

However, in the NHL, most hockey fans despise the shootout and are not huge fans of the 3-on-3. That's why teams each get a point if they end 3-periods with a tie. The weird OT decides who gets that second point, sure, but most hockey fans are relieved to leave with a point in "normal" hockey - also strongly preferring postseason rules, but understanding that the league wants the games to end.

The Olympics, yes I think they just need the games to end, but it is unsatisfying to change the format to 3-on-3 like that for the same reasons that most NHL fans complain about. It's not the same sport at that point, it changes far too much. By the way, in NHL 3-on-3, you get a lot of heavy puck possession antics, probably driven by the idea that the shootout is coming and you want either a sure thing or to go to the shootout. The Olympics 3-on-3 didn't seem to have that aspect, there was a lot more aggressive play which was interesting, although it nicely played into the USA's hands a bit when Werenski was able to knock Mackinnon off the puck and slide it over to Jack Hughes.

Also interesting that Mackinnon makes his big statement afterwards, but he is kind of the goat of the game in that play and missing a wide open shot. So, uh, no - the score would tell us who the better team was.
 
Miami style

IMG_0172.jpeg
 
I don't understand why Mackinnon is getting so much greive. Are we really prepared to argue that Team Canada was not the better team and dominated this game? I understand the frustration. As to 3 on 3 again from a hockey purist I understand the pushback. But as a casual fan who only watches the Caps I've always enjoyed a more wide open style where possession is so much more important. I've had enough of games that go 5 overtimes with 5 on 5 or worse yet settled by a shootout. 3 on 3 reduces shootouts so that's always good.
 
Complaining that the better team didn't win is simply sour grapes from a professional. The way to decide what team is better is by having them play against each other in a tournament, and whoever scores the most points in the each game wins. By a stroke of luck, they had just such a tournament this month. I have heard no complaints that the refs were slanted. I have heard no complaints that the players themselves were dirty. On 2 teams filled with enough NHL superstars that some of them are warming the benches, I don't think the loss of Sidney Crosby or any other individual makes it impossible to judge any team for the rest of the tournament.

So to complain now is just crying over spilled milk. Go win a tournament, then get back to telling us how awesome the Dream Team is.
 
I would not at all argue that Canada didn’t have the most ‘talented’ team but I would take great exception to the idea that they were the better ‘team’.

The Canadian team just wasn’t up for the moment, they had their own Malinin moment. Where even the most talented of athletes falter under the pressure of expectations, both internal and external. The Canadian fans expected, and perhaps needed, to win. The U.S. fans simply wanted to win.

Disappointment is human but being able to lose with grace is something many, if not most, parents strive to teach their children.
 
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