How long is a hockey game?
Regulation Time
In the NHL and most professional leagues, a hockey game has three periods of 20 minutes each. The clock stops for whistles, goals, and other delays, so the real time is longer.
If the game is tied after regulation, it goes to overtime. In the NHL regular season, overtime is 5 minutes of sudden-death 3-on-3. If still tied, a shootout follows.
In the playoffs, overtime periods are full 20-minute sudden-death periods until a goal is scored.
- Three 20-minute periods
- Two intermissions of 15-18 minutes
- Overtime: 5 minutes (regular season) or 20 minutes (playoffs)
- Shootout if still tied in regular season
Total Duration
A typical NHL game takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish, including intermissions and stoppages. Playoff games with multiple overtimes can last 4 hours or more.
College hockey also uses three 20-minute periods, but overtime rules vary. International hockey (IIHF) uses three 20-minute periods with a 10-minute overtime in some tournaments.
Variations by Level
Youth and high school hockey may have shorter periods, often 15 or 17 minutes, depending on age and league rules.
Women's hockey in the Olympics and NCAA also uses three 20-minute periods, with similar overtime formats to men's hockey.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a hockey game is only 60 minutes of real time; stoppages make it much longer.
- Thinking overtime is always sudden death; in the regular season, it's followed by a shootout if tied.
- Believing all levels use 20-minute periods; youth leagues often use shorter periods.
