By the Numbers: From Captain Dion Phaneuf to 3-on-3 to the Hat Trick—The Power of “3” in the Game of Hockey

If you’ve followed the game of hockey for any amount of time, you know certain numbers have a funny way of sticking with us. One of those is number “3”. It shows up in places fans always seem to remember—on the back of a captain, in the chaos of 3-on-3 overtime, and on the scoreboard when somebody’s having the kind of night people talk about long after the final horn.

1. The Captain’s Crest: Dion Phaneuf and Toronto’s No. 3

Say what you will about the Toronto Maple Leafs during that stretch, but Dion Phaneuf made No. 3 pretty hard to miss in Toronto. He wore it while serving as captain, and with that came heavy minutes and heavy scrutiny. That’s the deal in Leafs Nation—every shift feels like it’s under a spotlight. Even so, Phaneuf played with the kind of bite and presence that made jersey number “3” feel like part of the team’s identity.

2. Open Ice Chaos: The Thrill of 3-on-3 Overtime

Then there’s 3-on-3 overtime, which has basically become must-watch TV—especially when the Edmonton Oilers hit the extra frame. If you’ve watched McDavid grab the puck with open ice in front of him, you know the exact kind of buzz it creates. One mistake? Odd-man rush. One clean breakout? Fans are halfway out of their seats. The 3-on-3 pace is wild; the decisions are immediate and the excitement hard to match anywhere else.

3. Three Shots, One Legend: The Magic of the Hat Trick

And of course, there’s the hat trick—three goals, one night, and a pile of hats on the ice. It doesn’t matter if it’s a superstar or someone catching fire out of nowhere—the hat trick is one of the most notable achievements in hockey. The moment that third one goes in, the whole building seems to hit the same note.

Top 5 All-Time Hat Trick Leaders (3 or more goal games)

Wayne Gretzky – 50
Mario Lemieux – 40
Mike Bossy – 39
Brett Hull – 33
Alex Ovechkin & Phil Esposito – 32

Why “3” Still Matters Today in the Game of Hockey

Put it all together, and it’s easy to see why the number “3” keeps showing up in moments fans hold onto. It’s tied to leadership, to the fastest overtime the league’s ever used, and to one of hockey’s most beloved milestones. More than anything, though, it’s tied to that familiar feeling of watching something unfold that you know you’ll be talking about the next day—whether it’s a captain stepping up, a superstar tearing through OT, or a player burying their third of the night.

In NHL hockey, the number “3” just seems to carry a little extra weight.