NHL overtime rules, explained: How the OT format works in hockey for regular season, playoffs
After three periods, there are different sets of rules for the regular season and playoffs in the NHL.
www.sportingnews.comHere’s the latest on NHL overtime rules based on recent coverage.
- Regular-season overtime: The league generally uses a 3-on-3 overtime period lasting five minutes, followed by a shootout if no team scores. This format has been in place to reduce the number of shootouts and create more open play in OT.[1][5]
- Playoffs: Overtime is played in full 20-minute periods at 5-on-5, with sudden-death rules continuing until a goal ends the game. No shootouts occur in the playoffs.[3][5]
- Recent discussions: There has been ongoing debate about potentially extending overtime (e.g., longer OT or altered formats), but as of the most recent reporting, the league has not implemented a universal change to the standard regular-season OT format. Some analysts and media outlets have proposed options, while league officials have indicated concerns about unintended consequences of changes.[2][6]
Illustration of current structure:
- Regular season: 5-minute 3-on-3 OT -> if tied, shootout determines winner.[5][1]
- Playoffs: 20-minute 5-on-5 OT -> continues until a goal is scored.[3][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact wording from the latest NHL rulebook or summarize opinions from a specific source (e.g., ESPN, Sporting News) with direct quotes. Would you prefer a focused summary from a particular outlet or a brief pros/cons table of potential OT formats being discussed?[6][5]