Ice hockey is played all over the world, it’s one of the most entertaining and fast-paced games out there. To familiarize ourselves with the basics, let’s look at the structure. How long are hockey games and how many periods are there?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
– How Many Periods In Hockey?
– How Long Is A Hockey Game?
– Are There Any Breaks?
– How Long Is Overtime?
– Overtime During The Playoffs
There are three periods.
Most hockey games have 20-minute long periods. This is true for NHL games, other professional leagues and any professional amateur league. However, if you’re watching children play, these games will probably have shorter periods. Maybe 15 or 12 minutes in length. But, if you’re tuning into the National Hockey League or any other high level of hockey such as major junior or collegiate, they will have three 20-minute periods.
There are two breaks more commonly known as intermissions in hockey. The first starts at the end of the 1st period and lasts till the beginning of the 2nd period and the second intermission occurs between the 2nd and 3rd periods. The breaks are around 15 to 20 minutes long, a zamboni (pictured above) will come onto the ice to clear and clean the ice.
Intermissions are valuable for players and coaches. Hockey is a fast-paced game and intermissions allow players to get much-needed rest. Coaches utilize this time to analyze, strategize and make adjustments. They can use this time to motivate players, discuss tactics and amend lineups such as changing defensive pairings and even goalies.
Intermissions are also valuable to fans and they even serve a commercial purpose. Fans can use this time to chit-chat, go to the bathroom or grab refreshments. While, TV commercials will run throughout the majority of the intermission, stopping briefly for broadcasters or player interviews.
If the hockey game remains tied after three periods, the game will then proceed to overtime more commonly known as OT. The length of overtime varies but in the National Hockey League it’s 5 minutes long and it is sudden-death format. This means the next team who scores will win and the game will end, regardless of the time remaining on the clock. If overtime ends and the hockey game is still tied, a shootout will decide the winner.
In the NHL playoffs, a tied game after three periods means sudden death overtime, so the first team that scores wins, but in the playoffs, there is no shootout and the game must be decided during overtime. The overtime period is 20 minutes instead of 5 minutes and normal gameplay is 5-on-5 instead of 3-on-3.
Regular Season vs. Overtime
| REGULAR SEASON OVERTIME | PLAYOFF OVERTIME |
|---|---|
| Similarities: – Sudden-death format Differences: – 3-on-3 – The period is 5 minutes long – Overtime ends if 5 minutes have passed and no one has scored. | Similarities: – Sudden-death format. Differences: – 5-on-5 – The period is 20 minutes long – Overtime goes on indefinitely until a team scores. |
