Playoff hockey presents a distinct challenge when games remain tied after regulation play. Unlike the regular season, where teams transition to a three-on-three format for five minutes before a shootout, the approach in the postseason requires a different mindset and stamina.
The rules for playoff overtime are straightforward: action continues with a full five-on-five setup. Each period is twenty minutes long, mirroring regulation periods.
The format is sudden death. The first team to score a goal in the overtime period wins the game instantly.
There is no limit to the number of overtime periods played. If no team scores within the initial twenty minutes, the clock resets, and another full twenty-minute period begins. Play continues this way until a goal is scored.
This unlimited duration can lead to exceptionally long contests. The longest games in NHL playoff history demonstrate the potential for extended play under these rules.
Two games have extended to six overtimes, occurring in 1936 and 1933. Another three games reached five overtime periods, including matchups in 2000, 2020, and 2003.
A recent instance of a prolonged game occurred in the Eastern Conference Finals between the Panthers and Hurricanes, which lasted into a fourth overtime period before concluding. More information about some of the longest games is available here.
The contrast in NHL Overtime Rules between the regular season and playoffs highlights the heightened stakes and endurance required in the postseason.
