How long is a hockey game? Periods, breaks and overtime
A game has 60 minutes of regulation play, but takes longer to watch. How periods, intermissions and overtime affect an NHL game’s length.
A hockey game normally contains 60 minutes of regulation play across 3 periods. Stoppages and intermissions make the time between puck drop and the final horn considerably longer. Allowing roughly 2½–3 hours for an NHL game is a practical planning estimate, rather than a guaranteed finishing time.
How many periods are there?
Senior hockey normally uses 3 periods of 20 minutes. This applies to the NHL, SHLSHL, the Swedish Hockey League, is Sweden’s top men’s domestic ice hockey league. and senior competition under IIHF rules. Youth hockey and local competitions can use different timings. The 60 minutes measure actual playing time: a whistle for icing, for example, stops the game clock.
Why does a game take longer than 60 minutes?
Face-offs, penalties, goals, video reviews and television breaks take time while the clock can be stopped. Intermissions also allow the ice to be resurfaced. Adding 60 minutes to puck drop in the NHL schedule will therefore not tell you when the game finishes.
The 2½–3-hour allowance is viewing advice, not a measured average across all games. Some finish sooner; others take longer. Television coverage may also begin before puck drop and continue after the horn.
How long is regular-season overtime?
A tie after regulation leads to up to 5 minutes of sudden-death overtime, normally with 3 skaters per team. The first goal wins. If neither team scores, a shootout decides the result. It can require additional attempts beyond the opening round, so viewers still have no fixed finishing time.
Playoff overtime can last several periods
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams instead play 20-minute overtime periods, normally with 5 skaters each. The first goal wins and there is no shootout. Another tied period leads to another intermission and more overtime.