How Many Periods in Hockey? The Ultimate Ice Hockey Guide

Are you intrigued by the fast-paced and wonderful game of ice hockey, and curious about how long the games of hockey last typically? 

This is one of the most asked questions that arise among hockey enthusiasts and newcomers. Knowing the length of the game can help the fans to better schedule their day and watch the sports peacefully. It also helps the fans to better understand the game as well.

If you are asking “How many periods in hockey?” then this article is for you. 

This is your one-stop destination designed to help you understand the intricacies of a hockey game’s duration. Whether you are a newcomer to hockey or a fan for a long time, this guide will have all the essential details about the game. 

Let’s get started!

Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world, first, we must understand the basics of the fast-paced action sport that is hockey. In a game of hockey, the stakes are high, and the excitement is off the charts. So, let’s delve into the matter and answer the main question.

How Many Periods Are There in a Hockey?

Ice hockey is played in three periods of 20 minutes each. This separates ice hockey from the other sports that use halves or quarters. Those 20 minutes are filled with some non-stop action, and every second of the period counts in the pursuit for victory.  

Once the period is over, there is going to be an intermission that typically lasts for 15–18 minutes. This allows players to rest and strategize. This is done after each period is over. 

It’s possible that overtime may be added if the game ends in a tie. 

So, the simple answer to your question “How many periods in hockey?” is three. 

The Structure of the Game

In addition to basics like how many periods are in hockey, we must also look at the structure of the game. 

Other elements that also contribute to a hockey game include face offs, power plays, and penalties. 

• Face Offs – So, after coming from the intermission, the puck is dropped between two opposing players to resume the play. 
• Power Plays – This is the time when one team has more players on the ice than the other. This happens due to the penalties incurred by the opposing team. 
• Penalties – Penalties are given when infractions are committed by a player. Penalties typically result in temporary removal from the game for a certain amount of time. 

How Many Periods Are in Hockey in an NHL Game?

Well, an official NHL game has three periods. All three periods are 20 minutes of playtime. So, in total, there are 60 minutes of play happening on the ice. 

Why Three Periods?

It is about pacing and giving the players some time to breathe and strategize about the next period. With three periods, the game has a balanced distribution of play, giving teams a chance to come out with fresh legs and ideas. 

Intermission Between Periods 

Well, when a period ends, teams are given a typical 15–18 minutes break called intermissions. This gives players the chance to rest, adjust their equipment, regroup with their coaches, and discuss the strategy they are going to take from the next play. 

What Happens After Three Periods?

Now that you’ve understood how many periods are there in a hockey game and intermissions, let’s look at what happens after three periods are over. 

Usually, one team wins the game after three periods are over, but there is a chance of a tied game. 

In that case, the game goes into overtime and overtime has separate rules. 

Overtime in the Regular Season of the NHL

If the games are tied after 60 minutes of regulation play, they will go into overtime with some rules.

The rules of overtime in the regular season state that one 5-minute period is going to be played with a 3-on-3 format as opposed to regular 5-on-5 players. This is a sudden-death format, where the team who scores first wins. 

If both teams aren’t able to score in those 5 minutes, then we’ll proceed with the shootouts. Here, both teams will take turns to score against the opposing team’s goaltender. 

Overtime in Playoffs of NHL

If the teams are playing in the playoffs of the NHL, the rules are different. The rule is that games cannot end in a tie, so the overtime period continues until a team scores a goal. 

The overtime period in the NHL playoffs is 20 minutes long, played in the standard 5-on-5 format, and has sudden death.

So, whenever a team scores a goal, the match is completed. Or they will go on until a team scores. 

Other Factors Affecting Hockey Game Length

There are several aspects of the ice hockey game that can affect the length of the game. In most NHL games, television broadcasts are a big factor. All NHL games have some extra commercial breaks built in. 

These commercials or timeouts happen at the first whistle after 6, 10, and 14 minutes into the game of each period. 

Whistle Stoppages

Whistle stoppages can also contribute to the game’s length, as the clock is stopped after every whistle. And referees can do this for a number of reasons. These reasons include penalties, injuries, goals, or the puck going out of play. 

Power Plays

There is this tactic teams do in power plays: they ice the puck to get a whistle. It means they shoot it the length of the ice and break from the power play.

Conclusion

Hope this answers your question, “How many periods are in a hockey match?”

To conclude this, we’d like to say that the duration of a hockey game can vary depending on various factors including, overtime, penalties, and the level of play. A typical hockey game lasts around two and a half hours. Due to hockey being one of the hardest sport to play, when teams are playing their best, the games can last several hours. 

I hope this answers all your questions relating to periods in hockey, and now have a better understanding of the game as well. 

Thanks for reading! Do give us your thoughts in the comments. 

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