How Long Is Overtime In The NHL?

The NHL’s overtime period stands as a captivating spectacle, but its exact duration remains a topic of intrigue. In this article, we embark on an exploration of the length of overtime in the NHL, uncovering the intricacies that dictate its duration and its impact on the game.

How long is overtime in the NHL?

NHL overtime is five minutes long in the regular season and twenty minutes long in the playoffs.

In real-time, however, overtime can go longer due to intermissions, stoppages, and timeouts. Read below to see how long overtime is in real-time.

How Long Is Overtime In The NHL?

In the NHL, overtime is five minutes long in the regular season and twenty minutes long in the playoffs.

In the regular season, there is no intermission or flooding of the ice before overtime. If two teams tie in regulation, the game will immediately proceed to overtime. In the playoffs, however, there will be a 15-minute intermission preceding the overtime.

Read below for the specifics on NHL overtime rules.

Overtime Length IN Real-Time

Regular season NHL games that end in overtime last an average of 5 minutes, in real-time. This means from the moment regulation time ends, according to your own wristwatch, the game will last another 5 minutes.

This is true, however, only if the game ends in overtime. There is a big chance that it won’t end in overtime.

Roughly 32% of all overtime games end in a tie and thus continue onto a shootout. If this happens, the game will last another 9 minutes on average.

Taking everything into consideration – both overtimes and shootouts – if you are at a game, and the game enters overtime, you can expect to be there for another 6 minutes on average.

What Are The Overtime Rules In The NHL?

The overtime rules in the NHL vary depending on whether the game takes place in the regular season or playoffs.

Regular Season Overtime Rules

If two teams are tied at the end of regulation:

1. There will be no intermission or cleaning of the ice.
2. The game will immediately proceed to a single, 5-minute period of overtime. The first team to score wins.
3. If the two teams are tied at the end of 5 minutes of overtime:
   • There will be no intermission or cleaning of the ice.
   • The game will immediately proceed to a shootout.
   • Each team will be afforded 3 shooters – alternating between teams.
   • The team with more goals at the end of their 3 shooters wins.
   • If the teams are tied at the end of 3 shooters.
     • The shootout will proceed 1 round at a time – 1 shooter per team.
     • The team with more goals in a round wins.

Playoff Overtime Rules

If two teams are tied at the end of regulation:

1. There will be a 15-minute intermission and flooding of the ice.
2. After the intermission, there will be a single, 20-minute period of overtime. The first team to score wins.
3. If the two teams are tied at the end of 20 minutes of overtime, return to “Item 1” in this list.

How Many Overtimes In NHL Before Shootout?

In the NHL, there is one overtime before a shootout for regular season games. The overtime is 5 minutes long. This is, however, only true for regular season games.

For playoff games, there are no shootouts. Instead, teams play as many 20-minute periods of overtime as necessary to determine a winner.

How Long Is An Overtime Period In NHL Playoffs?

In the NHL playoffs, overtime playoffs are 20 minutes long. They are separated by 15 minute intermissions.

Team’s play as many overtimes as necessary to determine a winner. And because of this, playoff games the potential to go on for a very long time.

In 2023, the Panthers and Hurricanes famously played a playoff game that went to quadruple overtime. The game started at 8:10 PM and ended at 1:54 AM, a total of 5 hours and 44 minutes.

How Long Has Overtime Been In The NHL?

Evolution of overtime rules in the NHL:

• 1921
  • A single, 20 minute overtime period.
  • Not sudden death.
  • Draws allowed.
• 1927
  • A single, 10 minute overtime period.
  • Sudden death.
  • Draws allowed.
• 1928
  • A single, 10 minute overtime period.
  • Not sudden death.
  • Draws allowed.
• 1942
  • Playoffs:
    • A single, 10 minute overtime period.
    • Not sudden death.
    • Draws allowed.
  • Regular season:
    • No overtime.
    • Draws allowed.
• 1947
  • Playoffs:
    • 20 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • As many periods as necessary to determine a winner.
    • No draws allowed.
  • Regular Season:
    • No overtime.
    • Draws allowed.
• 1983
  • Playoffs:
    • 20 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • As many periods as necessary to determine a winner.
    • No draws allowed.
  • Regular Season:
    • A single, 5 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • Draws allowed.
• 1999:
  • Playoffs:
    • 20 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • As many periods as necessary to determine a winner.
    • No draws allowed.
  • Regular Season:
    • A single, 5 minute overtime period.
    • 4-on-4.
    • Sudden death.
    • Draws allowed.
• 2005:
  • Playoffs:
    • 20 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • As many periods as necessary to determine a winner.
    • No draws allowed.
  • Regular Season:
    • 5 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • 4-on-4.
    • Ties proceed to shootout
    • No draws allowed.
• 2015
  • Playoffs:
    • 20 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • As many periods as necessary to determine a winner.
    • No draws allowed.
  • Regular Season:
    • 5 minute overtime period.
    • Sudden death.
    • 3-on-3.
    • Ties proceed to shootout
    • No draws allowed.