Hockey is fast: the puck flies, players change on the fly and the whistle blows for things that are not obvious at first. Once you know a few rules, it becomes one of the most exciting sports to watch. Here is the plain-English version.
- How a game is structured
- What icing and offside mean
- How power plays work
- How overtime and shootouts work
The Basics
- Each team has six players on the ice: five skaters and a goalie.
- A game has three periods of 20 minutes, with intermissions in between.
- Players change during play, often every 40 to 60 seconds, because hockey is so intense.
- The goal is simple: put the puck in the other team’s net. Each goal is worth one point on the scoreboard.
Offside
The ice is divided by two blue lines. An attacking player cannot cross the blue line into the offensive zone before the puck. If they do, the play is stopped for offside and there is a faceoff outside the zone.
Icing
If a team shoots the puck from its own half all the way past the opponent’s goal line, and nobody touches it, it is icing. Play stops and the faceoff goes back to the defending team’s zone. A team that is short-handed (on a penalty kill) is allowed to ice the puck.
Penalties and the Power Play
When a player commits a foul, they go to the penalty box and their team plays with one fewer skater. The other team gets a power play.
| Penalty | How long | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | 2 minutes (ends early if the power play team scores) | Tripping, hooking, holding, slashing |
| Double minor | 4 minutes | High-sticking that causes an injury |
| Major | 5 minutes (does not end early) | Fighting, serious hits |
| Misconduct | 10 minutes (team not short-handed) | Abuse of officials, unsportsmanlike behavior |
Overtime and Shootouts
- Regular season: if the game is tied after three periods, teams play a 5-minute overtime 3 on 3. The first goal wins. If nobody scores, a shootout decides the game.
- Playoffs: there is no shootout. Teams play full 20-minute periods, 5 on 5, until someone scores. Some playoff games go into double or triple overtime.
How Teams Earn Points in the Standings
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Win (any way) | 2 |
| Loss in overtime or shootout | 1 |
| Loss in regulation | 0 |
In 2026-27, each team plays 84 games, the first time since 1993-94, including four games against every division rival. Our guide to the full 2026/27 NHL season has the key dates.
Words You Will Hear on TV
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Faceoff | How play starts: the referee drops the puck between two players |
| Hat trick | Three goals by the same player in a game; fans often throw hats on the ice |
| Penalty kill | Defending while short-handed |
| Empty net | A team pulls its goalie for an extra skater, usually late in a game it is losing |
| Shots on goal | Shots that would have gone in without the goalie’s save |
The NHL keeps an official video rulebook that shows each rule with real plays.
The Positions
- Center: takes most faceoffs and plays both offense and defense.
- Wingers (left and right): attack along the sides and fight for the puck near the boards.
- Defensemen: protect their zone, block shots and start the attack with passes.
- Goalie: the last line of defense, and often the most important player on the ice.
How a Typical Shift Works
- A line of forwards stays on the ice for under a minute, giving everything.
- Players change “on the fly”, jumping over the boards while play continues.
- Coaches match lines against the opponent’s best players, which you can see during stoppages.
Common Penalties You Will See
| Penalty | What happened |
|---|---|
| Tripping | A player uses the stick or body to make an opponent fall |
| Hooking | A player uses the stick to slow down an opponent |
| Slashing | A player swings the stick at an opponent |
| Holding | A player grabs an opponent or their stick |
| Too many men | A team has more than six players on the ice |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an NHL game?
Three 20-minute periods of game time. With stoppages and intermissions, a broadcast usually lasts about two and a half hours.
Why did the referee stop play when nobody committed a foul?
It was probably offside or icing, or the puck left the rink or was covered by the goalie.
Are there shootouts in the playoffs?
No. Playoff games continue with 20-minute overtime periods until someone scores.