Overtime in the NHL is an important part of the hockey experience. These rules determine how games are decided when the score is tied at the end of regulation time. They have evolved over time to become the rules we know today, and it is important to understand their structure and the tie-breaking process. This post will provide an overview of the NHL Overtime Rules, including their history, current structure, and the tie-breaking process. Overtime can sure make for some exciting hockey.
History of Overtime Rules
The National Hockey League (NHL) overtime rules have evolved over the years, primarily to increase the pace of the game and reduce the number of ties. Until the 1983-84 season, games that were tied at the end of regulation play were recorded as ties. In 1983-84, the NHL introduced a five-minute, sudden-death overtime period in which the first team to score would win the game. This overtime period was designed to reduce the number of ties and to allow fans to see a winner in each game.
The shootout was introduced to the NHL in the 2005-06 season to bring an exciting conclusion to tied games. The shootout is a skills competition in which players take turns trying to score on the opposing goalkeeper. The team that scores the most goals in the shootout wins the game.
The Current Structure of NHL overtime rules
The current overtime rules in the NHL are designed to ensure that games end in a timely and exciting manner. During the regular season, a game that is tied after regulation time is extended for an additional five minutes of sudden death overtime. During the overtime period, teams are reduced to three players on the ice, instead of the usual five. In the 2015-2016 season the NHL changed from four players per team to three during overtime. It creates a lot of open ice for the players. It is exciting to watch the teams best offensive players play head to head in this format. Lots of great action and any small mistake can be capitalized on by the other team. Teams that lose in overtime still get one point in the standings and the winners get two.
Since the introduction of 3 on 3 play in overtime periods 7.9% of all NHL hockey games go to a shootout. That averages out to six and a half games per team with an 82 game schedule.
What happens if there is a penalty in overtime?
If there is a penalty in overtime the penalized team does not go down from three skaters to two. Instead the power play is with four skaters on the non-penalized team and only three skaters on the penalized team. When the penalty is over the penalized player comes back on the ice and they play four on four until a play stoppage. When there is a whistle and the play stops the teams go back to playing three on three.
If the game is still tied after the five-minute overtime period, it goes to a shootout.
The Overtime Shootout
The shootout is like a player having a penalty shot. Each team alternates with a player skating down all by himself to shoot or deke the goalie. Three skaters from each team take turns one team at a time. If after three rounds a winner is not determined then it goes to sudden death. Each team gets a shot to win until one team scores and the other team doesn’t.
Some fans don’t like a game ending in a shootout while others think that it adds excitement. Let’s face it….the game has to end sometime. Some of us have to work in the morning. It’s only the regular season that has shootouts so get over it.
Playoff Overtime Rules
In the playoffs, the rules are a little different. Overtime is played at five-on-five and the periods are 20 minutes long like normal. The first team to score wins the game. There is no shootout, so if the first overtime period ends without a goal, then the game will move to a second overtime with the same format. The overtime periods will continue until a goal is scored. This is known as “sudden death” although there are no actual deaths on the ice. These “sudden death” games can be heart breaking for the losing fans but I don’t think that any of them die either. Unless maybe they have some pre-existing heart condition and then…..who knows?
The Longest NHL Playoff Game
The longest NHL playoff game goes way back to March 24, 1936. In the semi-finals between the Montreal Maroons and the Detroit Red Wings the game went to the sixth overtime period. It ended 116 minutes and 30 seconds into overtime. Modern day records would be in the 2000 Eastern Conference semi-finals between The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. They played into five overtime periods for a total of over 92 minutes. In 2020 Tampa Bay and Columbus played over 90 minutes of overtime in their first round series.
Thanks for your time. Leave a comment below…..What do you think about the overtime shootout?
