🏒 Ice hockey rules explained
Two teams of six (five skaters and a goaltender) try to shoot a puck into the opponent's net. NHL games are three 20-minute periods.
How scoring works
- Goal: 1 point when the puck fully crosses the goal line
- NHL standings: 2 points for a win, 1 for an overtime or shootout loss
Key rules
- Offside
- An attacking player can't enter the offensive zone before the puck crosses the blue line.
- Icing
- Shooting the puck from your own half across the opponent's goal line untouched stops play; the faceoff returns to your end.
- Power play
- When a player serves a penalty, the other team plays with an extra skater (usually for 2 minutes).
- Overtime
- Regular-season NHL games tied after 60 minutes go to 3-on-3 overtime, then a shootout.
- Faceoffs
- Play restarts with the referee dropping the puck between two players.
- Penalties
- Minor penalties are 2 minutes; majors are 5 minutes.
Learn it, then test yourself
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FAQ
How long is an NHL game?
Three 20-minute periods of playing time.
What is icing?
Shooting the puck from your half across the opponent's goal line without it being touched.
How long is a minor penalty?
2 minutes.
AI-generated, checked against the official rulebook (Hockey Canada rulebook and NHL official rules). Competitions can vary; the governing body's laws are the final word. Last updated October 16, 2026. Spot a mistake? Report an error.