Overtime in playoff hockey works slightly differently than in regular season games. Here are five facts to help you understand the rules and procedures of overtime in playoff hockey:
1. Overtime Format: Playoff overtime follows a sudden death format, where the first team to score a goal wins the game. Unlike the regular season, there are no shootouts in playoff overtime.
2. Length of Overtime: In the playoffs, there is no limit to the length of overtime periods. The teams continue to play until a goal is scored, resulting in a winner and a conclusion to the game.
3. Intermissions: During overtime, there are no commercial breaks or intermissions unless it is a long overtime game. If the game extends beyond a certain point, there may be a brief intermission to resurface the ice and give players a chance to rest.
4. Overtime Rules: The rules in overtime are the same as in regulation time, including penalties. However, the power play unit for the team with an advantage will usually have more offensive-minded players on the ice to maximize their scoring chances.
5. Home Ice Advantage: In terms of game format, the team with home-ice advantage in the playoffs gets to host the first two games, which includes any overtime periods. If a series extends to a game seven, the team with home-ice advantage will also host any overtime periods.
FAQs:
Q1. Are there intermissions in playoff overtime?
A1. In most cases, there are no intermissions during playoff overtime. However, for long overtime games, a brief intermission may occur to resurface the ice and allow players to rest.
Q2. How long can overtime last in playoff hockey?
A2. There is no time limit for playoff overtime periods. The game continues until a team scores a goal, resulting in a winner.
Q3. Do penalties carry over into playoff overtime?
A3. Yes, penalties do carry over into playoff overtime. If a team is on a power play at the end of regulation time, they will begin the overtime period with the man advantage.
Q4. Can a game end in a tie during playoff hockey?
A4. No, playoff games cannot end in a tie. Overtime is played until a team scores a goal, deciding the winner of the game.
Q5. Does the team with home-ice advantage always host overtime games?
A5. Yes, the team with home-ice advantage hosts all overtime games in a series, including the first two games and potential game seven.
Q6. Can a shootout occur in playoff overtime?
A6. No, playoff overtime does not involve shootouts. The game continues with sudden death until a team scores a goal.
Q7. Has there ever been an extremely long playoff overtime game?
A7. Yes, there have been several long playoff overtime games in history. The longest recorded playoff game occurred on March 24-25, 1936, when the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons played six overtimes before Detroit eventually won 1-0.
BOTTOM LINE:
Overtime in playoff hockey follows a sudden death format, where the first team to score a goal wins the game. There are no shootouts in playoff overtime, and the length of overtime periods has no set limit. Penalties carry over into playoff overtime, and the team with home-ice advantage hosts all overtime games. In most cases, there are no intermissions during playoff overtime, except for long games where a brief intermission may occur.
