How Many Periods Are in a Hockey Game?
In a standard ice hockey game, there are three periods. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the structure of a typical ice hockey game:
1. Regulation Play
- Number of Periods: 3
- Duration of Each Period: 20 minutes
- Total Regulation Time: 60 minutes
2. Intermissions
- Intermissions: 2
- Duration of Each Intermission: 15 to 20 minutes
- Purpose: Allows players to rest, maintain the ice surface (resurfacing by a Zamboni), and for fans to take breaks.
3. Overtime (if applicable)
- Regular Season:
- Duration: 5 minutes
- Format: 3-on-3 play
- Sudden Death: The first team to score wins.
- Playoffs:
- Duration: 20 minutes per period
- Format: 5-on-5 play
- Sudden Death: The first team to score wins, with additional overtime periods as necessary until a goal is scored.
4. Shootouts (if applicable)
- Regular Season Only:
- If the game remains tied after the overtime period, a shootout determines the winner.
- Format: Each team alternates taking penalty shots. Initially, three shooters per team, followed by sudden death if still tied.
- Not Used in Playoffs: Playoff games continue with multiple 20-minute overtime periods until a goal is scored.
Conclusion
A standard hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods. In case of a tie after these periods during regular season games, a 5-minute overtime period is played, followed by a shootout if needed. In playoff games, additional 20-minute overtime periods are played until a goal decides the game.