The last tie in the National Hockey League occurred in the 2003-04 regular season. Since that time, to avoid a tie, the NHL has used a shootout following overtime to end all regular-season hockey games. The NHL has employed limited overtime in regular-season games since 1983-84. Tied postseason games are decided in overtime as well.
Regular Season Overtime
National Hockey League teams play a five-minute overtime period if a game is tied at the end of regulation time. The teams play with four skaters and a goalie. The game is played in sudden-death format . If either team scores, the game is over. If the game is still tied at the end of the five-minute overtime period, the teams engage in a shootout to break the tie. In a shootout, each coach picks three skaters from his team to go shoot against the opposing goalie in a one-on-one situation. The team that scores the most wins the game. If the tie is not broken at that point, the teams alternate shooters until one team scores and the other doesn't.
Playoff Overtime
Teams also use overtime to break ties in the postseason. However, there is no limit to how long an overtime game can be played and the game extends in standard fashion with each team using five skaters and a goalie. The format of sudden death is a 20-minute sudden death period. If neither team scores, the teams take a 15-minute break and the ice is resurfaced. The game continues until a goal is scored.
Longest Overtime Game
The longest overtime game in NHL history was played between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons in 1936. In that game, Detroit defeated Montreal 1-0 on a goal by Mud Bruneteau in the sixth overtime period. The two teams played the equivalent of nearly three full games before Bruneteau scored the only goal of the game at the 16:30 mark of the sixth overtime.
Overtime Goals
Joe Sakic of the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche holds the all-time NHL record for most playoff overtime goals in a career with eight. Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens and Mel "Sudden Death" Hill both hold the record for most overtime goals scored in a single playoff series with three.
References
- "NHL Record and Fact Book"; National Hockey League Publishing; 2010
- NHL.com: Rule 84 -- Overtime
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