Well now, if you’re wonderin’ how long an NHL game goes on, lemme tell ya, it ain’t a quick little show like watchin’ a TV show, no sir! These hockey games, they got their own ways, takin’ up about 2.5 to 3 hours when all’s said and done. Ain’t no fixed finish time, though, lemme tell ya! Sometimes you’re outta there in about 2 hours, but more likely you’re sittin’ for closer to 3 hours if things get heated up.
See, an NHL game, it’s got three main periods, each 20 minutes long. Sounds simple, right? But listen, there’s stoppages and breaks here ‘n there, so them 60 minutes of playtime actually takes way longer. They got TV timeouts, commercial breaks, and sometimes the refs gotta stop the game for penalties or even injuries. And don’t even get me started on that overtime stuff – if the game’s tied, they keep playin’ past normal time!
Now, the Game Breaks
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Intermissions: Between each period, they got a 15 to 20-minute intermission where the players rest up, and the Zamboni machine goes ’round cleanin’ up the ice. So add about 30-40 minutes just for those intermissions!
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TV Commercials: Oh, those ads keep on comin’ – anytime there’s a stoppage, they might throw in a commercial break, which adds on time, especially during playoffs. Makes it longer but hey, that’s just how they keep things goin’ on TV!
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Penalties & Injuries: If somebody breaks the rules, the refs blow the whistle, which stops the game. Injuries? Same thing – everything stops. Sometimes, the delays ain’t short if they’re figurin’ things out on the ice.
Now, if the game’s set for 7 PM, don’t ya go expectin’ it to really start on time! Them games often start around 7:08 or so, just to give fans some time to settle in and for TV folks to get everything ready. By the time you get through it all, expectin’ to be out by 9:30 PM ain’t far off, but remember, there’s times it’ll go till 10 or even later if it’s real close and they go into overtime or a shootout!
How the Periods Break Down
So, like I said, there’s three periods, each 20 minutes. But, hockey bein’ the kinda sport it is, with stoppages and whatnot, those periods stretch out. The actual playin’ time might be 60 minutes, but add all those breaks and you’re easily sittin’ there for two and a half hours.
Now, if they’re tied at the end of three periods, that’s when overtime comes in – first a quick break, then a 5-minute overtime period. And if that don’t settle it, they might go for a shootout, takin’ turns shootin’ at the goalie. These can be short or drag out, dependin’ on how the score goes. Either way, you’re stickin’ around a bit longer if things are close!
Other Hockey Leagues
Now, don’t confuse the NHL with every other kind of hockey – high school and youth games, they’re usually quicker. But even them games can be drawn out with breaks and stoppages. But if you’re watchin’ the pros, it’s safe to say you’re lookin’ at about 2.5 to 3 hours for the whole thing.
So, there ya have it. Next time someone’s askin’ how long a hockey game is, you can tell ’em straight – pack some patience and maybe a snack or two, ‘cause ya might be there for a bit!
Tags：nhl game duration, how long is an nhl game, nhl game time, average nhl game length, nhl overtime
