Unveiled: The Shocking Secrets Behind Olympics Hockey Overtime and Shootout Rules!

Olympic hockey shares a fundamental principle with the NHL—no ties allowed. When the score’s even after the regulation 60 minutes, the contest doesn’t just call it quits; it extends into overtime, and if necessary, a shootout to crown a winner. Yet, despite this shared commitment to decisive outcomes, the way the Olympics handle overtimes and shootouts diverges significantly from the NHL’s approach. The length of sudden-death overtime varies depending on the stage of the tournament, tailoring the intensity to the stakes of the game. And the shootout? It’s a whole different beast, featuring unique rules that can turn the tension up to eleven. Curious how those twists play out on the Olympic ice? Let me break down the ins and outs of Olympic hockey’s overtime and shootout machinations that’ll set it apart from what you’re used to seeing during the NHL season. LEARN MORE.

Olympics hockey, just like the NHL, doesn’t allow for ties.

A game will go to overtime if it is tied after 60 minutes and there also is the possibility of a shootout if the game remains tied once an overtime period ends.

But there are differences between NHL rules and Olympic rules on how overtimes and shootouts are conducted. The maximum length of a sudden death overtime depends on the round in which the game is being played. And the shootout format is totally different from the one used by the NHL.

Here’s an explainer on how overtimes and shootouts work in Olympic hockey:

(From L) USA’s #74 Jaccob Slavin, USA’s #91 Clayton Keller, USA’s #14 Brock Faber and USA’s #37 Connor Hellebuyck celebrate after winning the men’s preliminary round Group C Ice Hockey match between USA and Germany at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 15, 2026. USA won the match 5-1.

Dylan Larkin #21 of Team United States and Moritz Seider #53 of Team Germany react after the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Moritz Muller of Germany clashes with Brady Tkachuk of United States in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Brady Tkachuk of United States in action with Kai Wissmann of Germany as linesperson Nick Briganti looks on in men’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Tage Thompson of United States in action with Tim Stutzle of Germany in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Quinn Hughes of United States in action with Nico Sturm of Germany in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Auston Matthews of United States celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Jake Sanderson of United States and Jake Guentzel of United States against Germany in men’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

United States fans react in the stands during the match against Germany in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

USA’s #91 Clayton Keller celebrates his team’s fourth goal scored by USA’s #72 Tage Thompson (not pictured) against Germany’s #37 Maximilian Franzreb (C) during the men’s preliminary round Group C Ice Hockey match between USA and Germany at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 15, 2026.

#09 Jack Eichel (R) tries to deflect the puck from Germany’s #37 Maximilian Franzreb (L) during the men’s preliminary round Group C Ice Hockey match between USA and Germany at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 15, 2026.

Jack Eichel #9 of Team United States celebrates a goal scored by Brock Faber #14 (not pictured) in the second period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

USA’s #34 Auston Matthews (C) with team mates after scoring the team’s second goal during the men’s preliminary round Group C Ice Hockey match between USA and Germany at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on Feb. 15, 2026.

Maximilian Franzreb #37 of Team Germany gives up a goal by Auston Matthews #34 (not pictured) of Team United States in the second period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb.15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Jack Eichel of United States in action with Leon Draisaitl of Germany in men’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Matthew Tkachuk of United States in action with Maximilian Franzreb of Germany in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Zach Werenski #8 of Team United States celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States skates with the puck against Parker Tuomie #62 of Team Germany in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Maximilian Franzreb #37 of Team Germany defends the net against Matt Boldy #12 of Team United States in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Matt Boldy of United States shoots at goal as Maximilian Franzreb of Germany makes a save in men’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Tage Thompson #72 of Team United States warms up before the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Germany players arrive during the warm up before the match against the United States in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Olympic overtime rules

If the teams are tied after 60 minutes in the preliminary round, a five-minute sudden-death overtime will be played at 3-on-3. Unlike the NHL, teams don’t change ends for overtime.

Overtime in a playoff game, along with the bronze medal game, lasts a maximum of 10 minutes. It’s also 3-on-3, as opposed to 5-on-5 in NHL playoff games.

In the gold medal game, teams play 20-minute 3-on-3 overtime periods, separated by 15-minute intermissions, until someone scores. Teams don’t change sides for the first overtime but do for subsequent overtimes.

Olympic shootout rules

If overtime doesn’t settle a game outside of the gold medal game, there will be a shootout. The winner of a coin toss gets to choose whether their team shoots first or second.

The format differs from the NHL, with five shooters per team instead of three. If nothing is settled after five rounds, then each round is sudden death as in the NHL. But there’s another difference. Olympic teams can use the same shooters multiple times during the sudden death rounds (think back to TJ Oshie in the 2014 Olympics). They also can change goaltenders.

In the sudden death round, the team that shot second in the first five rounds will shoot first. The rounds continue until one team finishes with one more goal than the other. That team is declared the winner.