What are NHL overtime rules?

If you’ve never experienced NHL overtime before, it’s unlike anything else in sports: a frenetic, sudden-death period with constant action and tension building with every shot. The best part? Each side plays with only three or four skaters (plus a goalie), which leads to even more skill and intrigue in extra time. That said, the rules surrounding overtime — and how it impacts the NHL standings — can be confusing if you aren’t familiar with how it works. Here’s everything you need to know about the NHL overtime process.

When did NHL overtime start? How have the rules changed?

Overtime was introduced in the NHL in 1921. Overtime began as an additional 20-minute sudden-death period of five-on-five action before being trimmed to 10 minutes in 1927 and five minutes in 1983. The rules regarding overtime changed many times over the last century, including the elimination of sudden-death rules (1928) and the elimination of overtime altogether in the regular season (1942). Even with overtime in place, the league allowed games to end in a draw until 2005, when the introduction of the shootout in the regular season eliminated the possibility for a game to end in a tie. In 2015, overtime was reduced to three-on-three in the regular season, marking the last major change to overtime rules in the NHL.

How does overtime work in the Stanley Cup playoffs?

The rules for overtime are simple in the NHL postseason. If the game is tied through three periods, each team keeps five skaters on the ice for an overtime period lasting up to 20 minutes — just like in regulation — and the game continues until one team scores. If the first overtime period ends without a goal, the teams will continue to play additional 20-minute overtime periods until someone scores.

How does overtime work in the NHL regular season?

If two teams are tied at the end of regulation in the regular season, the game goes to a sudden-death overtime period lasting up to five minutes, and the first team to score wins….

Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39345002/what-nhl-rules

Author : ESPN staff

Publish date : 2024-01-29 18:20:37

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