A standard professional hockey game lasts 60 minutes, divided into three 20-minute periods, not including intermissions and potential overtime.
Ever wondered how long you’ll be glued to the screen, watching those thrilling plays unfold? The question of “how long does a hockey game last” often pops up for new and seasoned fans alike. The game clock ticks down quickly, but there is more to it than that.
While the active playing time is 60 minutes, the overall event stretches longer. Intermissions and possible overtime periods greatly contribute to the total time you’ll spend viewing a hockey match.
How Long Does a Hockey Game Last?
Okay, so you’re wondering exactly how long you’ll be glued to your seat watching hockey? It’s a great question, and the answer isn’t as simple as saying “exactly two hours!” A standard hockey game has a set amount of playing time, but lots of things can make it run longer. Let’s break down all the parts that add up to the total time you spend enjoying the game.
The Basics: Three Periods of Play
At its heart, a hockey game is made up of three periods. Think of them like three separate chapters in a story. Each period is 20 minutes long. That’s 60 minutes of total playing time if you could just keep the clock running non-stop, but it doesn’t work like that in real life.
The Game Clock: It’s Not Always Running
Here’s the thing: the clock in a hockey game doesn’t just tick down consistently. It stops. A lot. Whenever the puck goes out of play, after goals, or when a penalty occurs, the game clock pauses. This stopping and starting is what makes the actual duration of a game much longer than just 60 minutes. These interruptions are all part of the game, they create more excitement, and they also give players short breaks to rest and re-strategize. This also helps the fans, so they don’t miss the action of the game.
Intermission Breaks: Time to Refuel
Between each of the three periods, there are intermissions. These are like little breaks in the action. There’s a 15 to 18 minute break between the first and second period, and also a 15 to 18 minutes break between the second and third period. These intermissions give the players time to get off the ice, catch their breath, change their equipment, discuss strategies with their coaches, and get ready for the next period. Fans might also use this time to grab snacks, go to the restroom, or stretch their legs.
Why Are Intermissions Important?
Intermissions aren’t just for rest; they are essential for both the players and the game. For players, the intense activity of the game makes them hot and sweaty and it gives them a moment to cool off and hydrate. It also gives the medical staff a chance to help with minor injuries or issues that may arise during the period. For the teams, coaches use the intermissions as opportunities to talk with their team, adjust their game plan, and motivate their players for the next period. The breaks help to make the game more engaging and enjoyable.
Penalties: Adding Time, One Minute at a Time
Penalties play a big role in hockey. When a player does something that breaks the rules, they go to the penalty box for a certain amount of time. Common penalties include tripping, hooking, or interference. A minor penalty is two minutes, whereas a major penalty is five minutes. Power plays occur when a team is on penalty. A penalty makes the game time longer, since the clock stops when penalties are called, and time is added when the penalized player comes out of penalty box and play resumes. A lot of penalties in a game could potentially extend the overall game time quite a bit.
What Happens During a Power Play?
During a power play, the team with the extra player (or players) tries to score a goal. The other team is short-handed and focuses on defense, trying to stop the other team from scoring. This makes the game exciting to watch, as the team with extra players has better scoring opportunities. Since the clock stops whenever a penalty is called, the time that is added to the play adds up to more time for the whole game. Penalties not only add extra time to a match, but they also affect the game’s momentum and strategy, making them very significant.
Game Stoppages: Beyond Just Penalties
Besides penalties, there are many other reasons why the game clock stops. When the puck goes out of bounds, there is an immediate stop to the play. Same for icing, when the puck travels all the way from one side of the ice past the opposing goal line without being touched by another player. When there is a whistle from referee for a offside, or hand pass, or if a player gets hurt, the clock will stop. And also, when goals are scored. These stoppages in the game can add up to quite a bit of time over the course of 60 minutes of total play.
How Face-Offs Affect Game Time
A face-off restarts the play after a stop, such as the puck going out of play. The players gather around a designated spot, and the referee drops the puck in between them and then they battle for control of the puck. While the faceoff itself takes just a few seconds, the time to gather players and get set adds seconds to the overall game clock. These brief pauses might seem unimportant, but, over the course of an entire game, they contribute to a longer game time.
Overtime: When Games Go Extra
Sometimes, at the end of the three periods, the game is still tied. This means we are in for overtime. How overtime works depends on the league. Here is a quick look at how overtime works in the NHL.
Overtime in the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL) uses a sudden-death overtime format during the regular season and the playoffs.
- Regular Season: It’s a five-minute overtime period with three players from each team. The first team to score a goal wins the game. If no one scores in five minutes, the game ends with a shootout.
- Playoffs: Playoff overtime periods go 20 minutes each. The teams play a normal game with five players on each team. The first team that scores a goal wins the game. The playoff overtime periods can repeat as many times as necessary until a goal is scored.
The Impact of Overtime on Game Length
Overtime dramatically impacts game length. A regular season game can end quickly in the extra five minutes or go to shootout, adding to the overall time, usually about 10 to 15 minutes. A playoff overtime game can potentially last very long, sometimes an extra hour or even two, depending on the number of overtime periods played.
Shootouts: A Final Way to Decide
In the NHL, if a regular-season game is tied after a five-minute overtime, it goes to a shootout. This is like a penalty-shot competition. Each team selects three players to take a shot. If the tie is still in place after that, each team then chooses more players one at a time until a team scores. Shootouts are exciting but are relatively quick, and they usually add no more than a few minutes to the game’s length.
Why Shootouts are Used
Shootouts prevent regular-season games from continuing endlessly in overtime. They provide an exciting way to end a tied game and declare a winner. While some fans like shootouts, others do not because it is not the standard format that is typically seen in a real hockey game. However, it does add excitement, drama, and a final end to the match, preventing extended game times.
Typical Length of a Hockey Game
So, with all these elements in place, how long can you expect to be watching a hockey game? Generally, a game lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours. But here is a breakdown for each match type:
- Regular Game: A regular hockey game, with its three 20-minute periods, intermissions, penalties, and stoppages, will typically run for about 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Playoff Game: Playoff games can run longer than regular-season games. This is mainly because of the longer intermissions, intensity, and possible overtime periods. So, playoff games could last more than 2.5 or even 3 hours, or longer if it reaches several overtime periods.
Factors that Influence Game Length
Many factors can influence the length of the game. Here are some of the factors:
- Number of penalties: The more penalties called in a game, the more time will be added.
- Injuries: When a player is hurt, the game will be paused to give the player treatment, which would increase the game length.
- Overtime: As we mentioned before, overtime adds to the duration of the game, and this could be anything from five minutes to an hour or two.
- Review: Sometimes the referees will need to review plays and goals, which also adds a couple of extra minutes to the game’s length.
Beyond the NHL: Different Leagues, Different Times
While we’ve mainly talked about the NHL, it’s good to know that other leagues might have slight differences in how long games last. For instance, the NCAA hockey games also have three 20-minute periods, but other rules may vary.
Youth Hockey and Different Formats
Youth hockey games often have shorter periods, for example 10-15 minute periods, because players are younger. There also might be no overtime or shootouts. These adjustments help to keep younger players engaged without exhausting them too much. These shorter game times make hockey accessible for younger players, allowing them to experience the fun and excitement of the game without being on the ice for hours.
Understanding what impacts the length of a hockey game makes watching it more enjoyable. From the three periods to intermissions, penalties, and overtime, it’s all a part of the experience. So, the next time you tune in to watch hockey, you will know exactly what to expect, and be prepared for some extra time if needed.
How long is a hockey game?
Final Thoughts
A standard hockey game lasts 60 minutes, divided into three 20-minute periods. However, stoppages in play for penalties, icing, and goals can significantly extend the actual game time.
Intermissions between periods add to the overall duration. They are typically 15 to 18 minutes long. So, the total time in which you will watch is quite varied.
Ultimately, when you want to know how long does a hockey game last, expect approximately 2.5 to 3 hours including intermissions and potential overtime.
