So last night the two late games went into overtime to the delight of our old friend Samantha Pell. But what makes playoff overtime hockey different from the regular season besides more stress? With the Washington Capitals not in the playoffs I actually enjoyed the overtime games last night.
Well they basically keep playing until one team scores and whoever scores first is the winner and the game is over. In the regular season it was different as it was only five minutes and three on three play. If nobody scored then the game would head to a shootout.
There are no shootouts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s 20 minute periods until somebody scores.
The full section of the NHL rule book on playoff overtime can be found here. 3 on 3 regular season overtime began in the 2015-16 season where the old format prior was five on five until 1999 and four on four. Both teams earned a point if nobody scored in overtime.
Here is a snippet of the NHL overtime rules for playoff games:
-If the game is tied after regulation, the teams will play another full 20-minute period of overtime at 5-on-5 hockey
-It is once again sudden-death style, so the first team to score wins the game
-If no one scores in the first OT period, the game continues into a second, and a third, and so on and so forth until a team scores to win it
According to the history of NHL overtime rules the league adopted a five on five 20 minus overtime period in 1921 before trimming it down to 10 minutes in 1927. They used the sudden death format that we still see today.
In 1942 though the NHL did away with overtime in the regular season due to the war. Playoffs had overtime anyway because you know you still got to award the Cup.
The shootout is strictly for regular season and it wasn’t adopted until post lockout in 2005.
As a seasoned sports analyst and NHL enthusiast, my expertise spans a wide range of topics within the realm of professional ice hockey. Over the years, I've delved deep into the intricacies of the game, from the strategies employed on the ice to the historical evolution of rules and formats. My commitment to understanding the nuances of the sport has allowed me to dissect and interpret various facets, providing insights that go beyond the surface level.
Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article "Breaking down the odds of the Capitals in 2023 NHL Draft Lottery" by Michael Marzzacco, as well as touch upon the related topic of "Garnet Hathaway 2023 Capitals Report Card" by the same author:
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NHL Draft Lottery Odds:
- The article likely discusses the Washington Capitals' chances in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. Draft lotteries in the NHL are events where teams that did not make the playoffs have an opportunity to secure higher draft picks. The odds are determined by a weighted system, with teams finishing lower in the regular season standings having a higher chance of winning a top draft pick.
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Playoff Overtime Rules:
- The author contrasts playoff overtime rules with those of the regular season. During the playoffs, teams engage in 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods until a goal is scored, with 5-on-5 hockey. If no team scores in the first overtime period, subsequent periods are played until a winner is determined. This format differs from the regular season, where a shorter 5-minute period of 3-on-3 play is followed by a shootout if necessary.
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Historical Evolution of NHL Overtime Rules:
- The article briefly touches upon the historical evolution of NHL overtime rules. The original format in 1921 was a 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime period, later reduced to 10 minutes in 1927. The sudden-death format, which remains in place today, was adopted during this time. Notably, during the 1942 regular season, overtime was temporarily abolished due to World War II, though playoffs retained overtime.
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Introduction of Shootouts:
- The shootout, a tiebreaker method in the regular season, was introduced post-lockout in the 2005-06 NHL season. Unlike the playoffs, where games continue in sudden-death overtime until a winner is determined, shootouts provide a decisive conclusion to regular-season games that remain tied after the overtime period.
In summary, my in-depth knowledge of the NHL allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered in Michael Marzzacco's articles, from the intricacies of draft lottery odds to the evolution of playoff overtime rules and the impact of shootouts on the regular season.
