An overtime period in hockey is an additional period of play that is added to the end of a regular game if neither team has scored enough goals to win within the regulation time. Here are 5 supporting facts about the length of an overtime in hockey:
1. Time Frame: In the National Hockey League (NHL), an overtime period consists of 5 minutes of 5-on-5 sudden death play. If neither team scores within this time, the game proceeds to a shootout.
2. Modification for Playoffs: In playoff games, the length of an overtime period is extended to 20 minutes, and the teams play 5-on-5 until a goal is scored. There are no shootouts in playoff games.
3. Continuous Play: Unlike regular game periods, an overtime period is played as a continuous 5 minutes without any breaks for commercial timeouts or intermissions.
4. No Period Limit: There is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played in a regular season NHL game. If neither team scores in the initial 5-minute overtime period, the game will proceed to subsequent 5-minute overtime periods until a goal is scored.
5. NHL Shootout Rule: If the overtime period ends without a goal, a shootout is used to determine the winner. Each team selects three players to take alternating penalty shots, and if the game remains tied, additional rounds are played until a winner is determined.
FAQs about the length of an overtime in hockey:
1. How often does overtime occur in hockey games?
– Overtime occurs in approximately 22% of NHL games, according to statistics from the 2020-2021 season.
2. Can a team score more than one goal in overtime?
– No, once a goal is scored in overtime, the game ends immediately, and the team who scored the goal wins.
3. What happens if a team is still on a power play when regulation time ends?
– If a team is on a power play when regulation time ends, they will start the overtime period with a man advantage until the penalty time expires or until a goal is scored.
4. How long are the breaks between overtime periods?
– In NHL playoff games, there is typically a 15-minute intermission between overtime periods. This allows players to rest, receive medical attention if needed, and make any necessary adjustments before the start of the next period.
5. How often do shootouts occur in overtime?
– Shootouts occur if neither team scores in the initial 5-minute overtime period in regular season games. In the 2020-2021 season, approximately 8% of games required a shootout.
6. Are there any differences in the overtime length between the NHL and other professional hockey leagues?
– Yes, the lengths of overtime vary between different professional hockey leagues. For example, the American Hockey League (AHL) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) use a 7-minute sudden death overtime period instead of 5 minutes.
7. Can a team still earn a point for losing in overtime?
– Yes, in the NHL, a team that loses in overtime or a shootout will still earn one point in the standings, while the winning team will earn two points.
BOTTOM LINE:
In the NHL, overtime periods are 5-minute sudden death play in regular season games, followed by a shootout if necessary. Playoffs have 20-minute overtime periods without a shootout. There is no limit to the number of overtime periods, and shootouts occur if no goals are scored in the initial overtime.
