Hey, so you’re wondering how many periods are in an NHL hockey game, huh? Well, let me tell you, it’s not like soccer or basketball with all those halves or quarters. Nope, hockey does things its own way, you see. NHL games have three periods. Each one of them lasts 20 minutes. You play a period, take a breather, play another one, take another break, and then finish it up in the third. Simple, right?
Now, why three periods, you might ask? Ah, that’s a good one. Back in the really old days, I’m talkin’ before 1910, hockey was played in two halves of 30 minutes each. Can you imagine that? All those fellas skating nonstop for half an hour, and they only got one break! They must’ve been more tired than a plow horse by the end! Well, somebody came up with the idea that three periods would be easier on the players, give the fans more action, and make the whole game flow better. And that’s what we’re used to now.
So, the game starts with that first period, and they go at it hard, trying to score those goals. Once those first 20 minutes are done, there’s an intermission. And this break isn’t short either, usually around 15 to 18 minutes. Gives those players time to rest up, and maybe the coaches throw a few words at them to keep ‘em on track. They head back for the second period, do it all over again, then take another break, and finally, there’s the third period where it’s all on the line.
Now, if the game’s tied after three periods, it doesn’t just end there, no sir. In the regular season, they go into what they call overtime. This isn’t like the regular periods, though; it’s only 5 minutes long and played with fewer players – just three skaters on each side, plus the goalies. And whoever scores first wins, just like that! No waiting around.
Oh, but playoffs – now that’s a whole different ball game. You see, in playoff games, there’s no shootout if it’s still tied after overtime. They just keep on playin’ more 20-minute overtime periods until someone scores. Yep, it can go on for a long while! Playoff hockey can be a real nail-biter, let me tell ya.
- Periods: NHL games have three periods, each lasting 20 minutes.
- Intermissions: Two breaks, 15-18 minutes each, after the first and second periods.
- Overtime: If it’s a regular season game, it’s a 5-minute overtime, and if that doesn’t settle it, they go to a shootout. But in the playoffs, it’s a full 20 minutes, and they play until there’s a goal.
So, there you have it, hockey isn’t just a simple game of throwing a puck around. These periods give it a pace, a rhythm. Three parts to the main game, breaks in between, and overtime if they’re still tied up. It’s that mix of rest, play, and a little extra if needed that makes hockey exciting. Now, next time you’re watchin’ a game, you can tell folks just how those periods work and why they’re set up that way!
Tags：[hockey periods, NHL game structure, ice hockey rules, overtime in hockey]
