The average hockey game lasts approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
Ever wondered about the clock during a thrilling hockey match? It’s easy to get lost in the action, but how long does the average hockey game last? From face-offs to final buzzers, the total time is longer than the 60 minutes of play you see.
That’s because intermissions and stoppages for penalties, icing, and other reasons extend the overall duration. We break down exactly what to expect for the game’s total length, from start to finish.
How Long Does the Average Hockey Game Last?
Ever sat glued to the TV, watching skaters zoom across the ice, pucks flying, and goals being scored, and wondered, “How much longer is this game going to last?” You’re not alone! Knowing how long a hockey game typically lasts can help you plan your evening, whether you’re heading to the rink or settling in on the couch. Let’s break down the timing of a hockey game and what makes it tick.
The Standard Game: Three Periods of Action
At its heart, a standard hockey game is divided into three main periods. These are the building blocks of the game’s structure, much like chapters in a book. Each period is designed to be exactly 20 minutes long, but this is where it gets interesting – that’s 20 minutes of playing time. It doesn’t include all the stops and starts that naturally occur during a game. This distinction is really important to keep in mind.
Clock Stops and Starts
The clock in hockey is not a constant ticking machine. It stops frequently during the game. Here are some of the most common reasons why the game clock comes to a halt:
- Whistles: When a referee blows the whistle, the clock stops. This can be for penalties, icing (when a player shoots the puck from their own side past the other team’s goal line without it being touched by another player), offsides (when an offensive player enters the attacking zone before the puck), or when the puck goes out of play.
- Goals: When a goal is scored, there’s a brief stop in play to celebrate the goal and allow the referee to check if the goal was legitimate.
- Injuries: If a player gets injured, the clock stops to allow medical personnel to attend to them.
- Timeouts: Each team has one timeout per game, which they can use to discuss strategy or take a quick breather. Timeouts also stop the clock.
These frequent stops are why the actual length of a hockey game is much longer than just 60 minutes of playing time.
Intermissions: The Breaks Between Periods
Between each of the three periods, there are intermissions. These breaks allow the players to rest, coaches to strategize, and even the ice to be resurfaced. Intermissions generally last about 15 to 20 minutes. They offer some time to grab a snack, stretch your legs, or even chat about the game. So, when you consider how long the game lasts, remember to add these breaks into your calculation.
- First Intermission: After the first 20 minutes, teams take their first intermission break.
- Second Intermission: Following the second 20-minute period, the teams are given their second intermission break before the third period.
- Ice Resurfacing: A significant part of the intermissions is that the ice is resurfaced with a Zamboni. This smooths the ice for better skating and puck movement during the next period, and it takes time!
The Total Time: Putting it All Together
Okay, so we’ve talked about the 20-minute periods, the clock stops, and the intermissions. Let’s add it all up to get a better picture of how long a typical hockey game will last. Here’s a general breakdown:
- Playing Time: Three periods x 20 minutes each = 60 minutes
- Intermission Time: Two intermissions x 15-20 minutes each = 30-40 minutes
- Game Stops: The variable amount of time taken by stoppages for penalties, offsides, goals, injuries etc, can add another 30 – 60 minutes. This depends on the game.
So, when you combine all of these together, a standard professional hockey game generally takes between 2.5 to 3 hours from start to finish. However, some games can go longer, and sometimes, they are a bit shorter. Let’s dig a little deeper into the things that can affect a game’s length.
Overtime: When the Game Isn’t Over
Sometimes, after the three periods, the score is tied. This means the game moves into overtime (OT). Overtime rules vary, but the basic idea is to find a winner. Overtime significantly increases the overall duration of a hockey game. Here’s how it usually works in the NHL:
Regular Season Overtime
In the regular season of NHL, overtime consists of one five-minute period played with three skaters per team, not including the goalie. If a goal is scored, the game ends. If there is no goal, then the game will go to a shootout.
- Three-on-Three: The three-on-three format makes for more open ice and exciting scoring opportunities.
- Sudden Death: The first goal in overtime wins the game.
- Shootout: If after the five-minute overtime, the score remains tied, the game goes to a shootout. Each team takes turns attempting penalty shots against the opposing goalie. The first team to secure a lead is declared the winner.
Playoff Overtime
Playoff overtime in the NHL is quite different. Here, they skip the shootout and play sudden-death 20-minute periods with five players from each side. It will keep going this way until one team scores a goal.
- Twenty-Minute Periods: Teams play full 20-minute periods in OT.
- Sudden Death: The first goal wins, and they keep going until a goal is scored. These overtime periods are called “Sudden Death.” This can lead to some really long games, making the game last for many extra hours.
Overtime can be exciting, but it will surely make the game last much longer. There have been some NHL games that have gone to many overtimes, making the game a lot longer than usual.
Factors Influencing Game Length
While we’ve covered the basics, here are other elements that can impact how long a hockey game lasts:
Number of Penalties
Penalties are a common part of the game. When a player commits a foul, they’re sent to the penalty box for a specified amount of time, leaving their team short-handed. This results in a power play for the other team. Penalties will always stop the game clock, and the frequency of penalties definitely influences game length. More penalties often mean a longer game.
Number of Goals
Whenever a goal is scored, the game stops for a little bit. While not as lengthy as penalties, a high-scoring game can tack on a few extra minutes to the game’s overall duration.
Injuries
Player injuries are part of the game. If a player gets injured, especially if it’s serious, medical personnel need to attend to the player. This can lead to significant stoppages in play and make the game last much longer.
Video Reviews
In modern hockey, video reviews happen when referees need to double check a play, specifically goals, or major penalties. These video reviews can lead to several minutes added to game time. These reviews make sure correct decisions are made, but they do add to the overall game duration.
Level of Play
The level of hockey being played also affects game duration. Professional leagues, like the NHL, typically adhere strictly to the time rules described above. However, other levels might have slightly different timings for periods and intermissions, and different overtime rules too.
Youth Hockey
Youth hockey, for instance, often has shorter periods (like 12 or 15 minutes) and shorter intermissions, designed to match the stamina of younger players. These games are often shorter than professional matches. They could be much shorter – between one and two hours.
College Hockey
College hockey, while closer to professional rules, might have some slight differences, too, like rules on overtimes. They generally are similar to the professional game, and tend to be in the range of two and half to three hours.
Different Leagues, Different Times
While the basic format of three 20-minute periods is quite standard, different leagues around the world may have different ways of timing the game or running the clock. This can alter the overall time it takes to watch a match.
National Hockey League (NHL)
As mentioned before, the NHL follows the three 20-minute periods format, and it is the most common league people follow.
- Standard Length: Games typically run between 2.5 and 3 hours.
- Overtime Rules: Three-on-three five minute sudden death overtime and shootout in regular season and 20 minute sudden death periods in playoffs.
American Hockey League (AHL)
The AHL is the primary development league for the NHL. It also generally follows the same rules for gameplay and duration as the NHL.
- Standard Length: Games last approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Overtime Rules: Similar to the NHL, the AHL has three-on-three sudden death overtimes in regular season, and if still tied, the game will go to a shootout. In playoffs, the league implements 20-minute sudden death periods.
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
The IIHF oversees international hockey competitions such as the Olympics and the World Championship. The IIHF uses similar rules as the NHL, but has different overtime rules.
- Standard Length: Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Overtime Rules: The IIHF uses sudden death overtime rules in the regular games, with the length depending on the competition.
A Summary: Key Takeaways
To recap, let’s highlight the key points of how long a hockey game lasts.
- A standard hockey game has three 20-minute periods of playing time.
- Clock stops for whistles, penalties, goals, and injuries.
- Intermissions between periods add about 30-40 minutes.
- Overtime can greatly increase the game’s length.
- Different factors like the number of penalties, injuries and reviews, can affect how long a game lasts.
- The level of play, from youth to professional, can also affect duration.
So, the next time you settle in to watch a hockey game, you’ll know what to expect and how to plan accordingly. The length of a hockey game makes it an engaging sporting experience with all the back and forth action.
Knowing how long a hockey game lasts will certainly help you enjoy the game more fully, and now you have an answer to the question “How long does the average hockey game last?”. Enjoy!
How Long Is The Average Hockey Game? Best Game Length Guide
Final Thoughts
The average hockey game lasts about two and a half hours. This includes three 20-minute periods of play, plus intermissions. Overtime periods can extend the total game time.
Various stoppages for penalties and puck movement also contribute to the overall duration. Knowing that how long does the average hockey game last helps fans plan their viewing time. This information also helps viewers appreciate the game flow.
