How Long Is The Average Nhl Hockey Game?

The average NHL hockey game lasts around 2.5 to 3 hours, including intermissions.

Ever found yourself wondering how long is the average NHL hockey game? You’re not alone! Many fans, both new and seasoned, ask this very question. The clock keeps ticking as the fast-paced action unfolds on the ice.

The actual playing time is much shorter. It’s broken up into three 20-minute periods. Those exciting intermissions between periods add to the total time.

How Long is the Average NHL Hockey Game?

Figuring out how long an NHL hockey game lasts can be a little tricky. It’s not as simple as saying it’s always exactly this many minutes. While there’s a set amount of playing time, other things happen during the game that affect the total length. Let’s break it all down so you know what to expect when you settle in to watch your favorite team!

The Core of the Game: Regulation Time

The heart of every NHL game is the standard 60 minutes of play. This is divided into three periods, each lasting 20 minutes. It’s like having three mini-games within one big game! Between each of these periods, there is an intermission. These intermissions are essential for the players to rest, strategize, and get ready for the next period.

Understanding the 20-Minute Periods

Each period is precisely 20 minutes of actual playing time. This means that the clock only runs when the puck is actively in play.
Whenever there is a stoppage in play – due to things like penalties, icing, or a goal – the game clock stops. This is crucial, because it keeps the total playing time fair and consistent.

The All-Important Intermissions

There are two intermissions during a regular game.
Typically, intermissions last for 17 minutes in the regular season.
These breaks give players a chance to cool down, adjust their gear, and receive coaching instructions. Fans often use this time to get snacks, use the restroom, or just chat about the game.
In the playoffs the intermissions are a few minutes longer. This allows the players a little more time to recover between periods because the level of play is very intense.

Factors That Extend Game Time

While the actual playing time is 60 minutes, the total time you spend watching a game is usually longer. This is because of all the extra things that happen that stop the clock. Let’s explore those things:

Penalties and Power Plays

When a player breaks a rule, they get sent to the penalty box. This is called a penalty.
Penalties cause a stoppage of play and the penalized player’s team must play with one less player for a specific amount of time.
The opposing team gets to play with one more player during the penalty, which is known as a power play.
All these stoppages to determine penalties and start the power plays, make the total time of game longer.

Icing and Offsides

Icing happens when a player shoots the puck from behind their own side of the center line and it goes all the way to the other team’s goal line without being touched by another player. Icing causes a stoppage of play and a face-off in the team’s zone that committed the icing.
Offsides occur when an offensive player crosses the blue line into the offensive zone before the puck does. This causes a stoppage in play and a face-off in the neutral zone.
These violations although only take a few seconds to call, they add to total length of the game.

Goals and Goal Reviews

Every time a goal is scored, the clock stops. This allows time for the goal to be celebrated, for the replay to be shown, and the next face-off to be organized.
Sometimes, there’s a question whether or not a goal was actually scored correctly. In these cases, the referees might review the play. This review can take a few minutes.
The goal review process adds a little more time to the total game length.

Injuries and Medical Timeouts

Sometimes a player gets hurt during a game. When this happens, the play stops immediately so the player can get medical help.
The medical staff may come onto the ice to assess the player and treat their injury. This can take up a few minutes while the player is checked out.
If the player needs to be carried off of the ice, this will also add to the amount of time the game is delayed.

TV Timeouts

The NHL has scheduled commercial breaks during the game called TV timeouts. These timeouts happen at regular intervals, regardless of what is happening in the game.
These timeouts are primarily for television broadcasts to show commercials, but they do also give players a chance to rest.
While these are scheduled, they are another factor that contributes to a longer overall game time.

Overtime and Shootouts

Sometimes, a game ends in a tie after the 60 minutes of regular play. In these cases, there is a chance of having more hockey!

Overtime in the Regular Season

During the regular season, if a game is tied after 60 minutes, there is a 5-minute overtime period.
The teams play 3-on-3 hockey, meaning there are fewer players on the ice.
If someone scores a goal in the 5-minute overtime period, that team wins the game.

Overtime in the Playoffs

During the playoffs, the stakes are much higher! If the game is tied after 60 minutes, there is a 20-minute overtime period.
The teams play 5-on-5 hockey, meaning there are the usual number of players on the ice.
The overtime periods continue until a team scores a goal and then they win the game.

The Shootout

If a game is still tied after the 5-minute overtime period in the regular season, then a shootout happens.
In a shootout, players from each team take turns trying to score on the other team’s goalie.
The shootout continues until one team has more goals than the other team.
There are no shootouts in the playoffs, the overtime period is 20-minutes until a team scores a goal.

Average Game Length in Minutes

So, given all these factors, how long should you actually expect an average NHL game to be?

While the actual playing time is 60 minutes, the total time of the game is usually between 2 hours and 20 minutes and 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The actual time can vary from game to game. Some games might run shorter, while others, especially those with lots of penalties, power plays, or goal reviews, can take closer to three hours.
Playoff games will always run longer, even if the game doesn’t go into overtime. Since, the intermissions are longer and the games usually have more stoppages due to the intensity of the level of play.

Here’s a helpful breakdown:

Regulation Time: 60 minutes
Intermissions: Approximately 34 minutes (2 periods, 17 minutes each in the regular season)
Average additional time: 40-60 minutes due to penalties, stoppages, and TV timeouts.
Overtime (if needed): 5 minutes for the regular season, or 20 minutes for playoffs
Shootout (if needed in the regular season): 5-10 minutes, depending on how long it takes to have a winner.

A quick table for reference

Tips for Planning Your Game Night

Knowing that the average game usually takes over two hours, it helps with planning a night out! Here are a few things to consider:

Mealtime: Plan your meal around the game schedule. If you are planning to go to a game, consider eating before you go, or get some food at the arena.
Travel time: Factor in travel time to and from the stadium. Plan to arrive early so you don’t miss any of the game.
Bedtime: If you are watching a game with children, consider the time the game might end. It is always a good idea to plan for a late game, in case it goes into overtime.

So, while the official playing time in an NHL game is 60 minutes, you should expect the game to last for a much longer period. The combination of intermissions, penalties, and other factors can easily push the total game time to around two and a half hours or more. But, with all of the excitement and action that can happen at any moment, who is keeping track of time? Now you know what to expect the next time you decide to catch a game!

Average NHL Game Experience

Final Thoughts

The average NHL hockey game lasts approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. This includes three 20-minute periods of play. Intermissions and stoppages contribute to the overall game time.

Several factors influence the exact duration. Penalties, injuries, and video reviews can extend the game considerably. Therefore, the question of ‘how long is the average nhl hockey game’ has a variable answer. It is important to note that the actual playing time is considerably less than the total elapsed time.