What happens when an NHL game is tied after regulation? Find out all about how overtime works in hockey.

When the clock runs out and the score is tied, NHL overtime kicks in, ramping up the tension and excitement. In this article, we dive into the rules that govern these high-stakes moments, from the action-packed 3-on-3 regular season format to the nail-biting sudden-death playoff showdowns. See how overtime strategies can make or break a game and explore the rich history of NHL overtime.

NHL Overtime Rules: How Does Hockey OT Work?

Overtime is one of the most exciting things in hockey; it’s also one of the most important. A five-minute sudden-death period of 3-on-3 hockey in the regular season is exhilarating and can be the difference between a team making or missing the playoffs with that crucial extra point.

While standard 5-on-5 hockey is much slower with 10 skaters on the ice, only having three players per side opens things up a ton in the extra session.

Can a Hockey Game End in a Tie?

There was a long period in which NHL games could end in a tie but that is no longer the case. Ties used to regularly occur in the NHL until the 2004-05 lockout. It was then the NHL introduced the shootout if teams were tied after overtime.

Rather than each team just getting one point for a tie, the implementation of the shootout meant that some games would be worth three points. A team losing past regulation earns one point while the winning team gets the usual two. This complicated things a bit in the standings as three-point games brought even more parity in the NHL and we still see that today.

What Are the NHL Overtime Rules?

The NHL has different overtime rules for the regular season and the playoffs.

NHL Overtime Rules for the Regular Season

In the regular season, the NHL plays a five-minute period of 3-on-3 where the first goal wins. This can lead to some exciting action at both ends, however, some teams tend to play more conservatively as puck possession is the most important thing in the extra period.

If there are no goals scored during the five-minute overtime, a three-round shootout is played to determine the winner. If the shootout is tied after three rounds it continues until there is a clear winner.

NHL Overtime Rules for Playoffs

The NHL treats overtime in the playoffs a lot differently. While the focus of overtime in the regular season is to come to a quick conclusion, in the playoffs it’s all about sticking to the typical 5-on-5 game.

Teams get a 15-minute intermission period prior to overtime in the playoffs rather than a quick scrape of the ice in the regular season. Furthermore, these 15-minute breaks continue until a goal is scored. Overtime is always sudden death in the NHL.

Given that overtime is continuous, there is no shootout in the playoffs. There are regularly double-overtime games and sometimes even triple-overtime or quadruple overtime — or longer.

History of NHL Overtime Rules

Overtime did not always exist in the NHL. Overtime was initially eliminated due to war time restrictions in late 1942. All regular season games ended in a tie after 60 minutes of regulation play. 

It wasn’t until the 1983-84 season that the NHL brought overtime back into existence. The NHL introduced a five-minute overtime period at the time.

The shootout was introduced in 2005 and the current 3-on-3 overtime format was implemented before the 2015-16 season.

The NHL has evolved from no overtime to five minutes of 5-on-5, to five minutes of 5-on-5 and then a shootout, to the five minutes of 3-on-3 and then a shootout that we have today. Many feel this has brought more excitement to the extra session in recent years.

Longest Overtime Games in NHL History

Playoff overtime is one of the most intense things in all of sports, not just the NHL. There have been some historic games played well past one, two, or even three overtime periods.

The longest overtime game in NHL history occurred on March 24, 1936 with Mud Bruneteau scoring the lone goal for the Detroit Red Wings to defeat the Montreal Maroons in six overtimes after 116 minutes and 30 seconds of overtime (176 minutes and 30 seconds of total play).

The second-longest game in league history also occurred back in the 1930s, and it was once again a 1-0 final score. Ken Doraty scored for the Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the Boston Bruins in the sixth overtime after 164 minutes and 46 seconds of play.

There have also been a few long games in the modern era.

Keith Primeau scored for the Philadelphia Flyers to take down the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 4, 2000. The Flyers beat the Penguins 2-1 in five overtimes (152 minutes and 1 second of play).

Most recently, the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets on August 11, 2000 with Brayden Point scoring the game-winning goal for a 3-2 final score in the fifth overtime. Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo made 85 saves on 88 shots in the loss.

These are just a few of the many games that became instant classics for both the winning teams and the NHL as a whole.

How Do Hockey OT Rules Affect Fantasy Strategies?

NHL overtime rules can impact fantasy hockey scoring and strategies alike. Teams typically only play their most skilled players in overtime with two forwards and one defenseman. It is rare for a team to play two defensemen in overtime, but some teams go with three forwards at times.

If you notice certain teams tend to go to overtime more than others, it doesn’t hurt to have some of their top players on your roster as you’ll get a few extra minutes of high-flying action in the extra period.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many overtimes before shootout in the NHL Playoffs?

There is never a shootout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Teams will play continuous overtime periods until someone scores a goal.

How long is overtime in the NHL regular season?

Overtime is five minutes long in the NHL regular season. Teams skate 3-on-3 in the five-minute extra session.

Do player statistics in overtime count in Fantasy hockey?

Yes. Having top-end players play overtime games can help your fantasy team as those players will get plenty of high-danger chances to score in the overtime period.

Score the Winning Goal With Sleeper

The NHL overtime rules may seem a bit complex but you should have a better understanding of them after reading this article. Regular-season overtime is five minutes of 3-on-3 then a shootout. Playoff overtime plays at 5-on-5 in 20-minute periods until a goal is scored. 

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